The Weight of Riches

And Lot, who was traveling with Abram also had flocks, herds, and tents. But the land could not support them living together, for their possessions were too great. And herdsmen of Abram and Lot began to quarrel. Abram said to Lot: Let’s not have quarreling between me and you, or between my herdsmen and yours since we are family. Is not the entire land before you? Please, separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.

—iBIBLE Episode 9 

Scripture reference: Genesis 13:5–9

When Abram’s brother Haran had passed away back in the land of Ur, Abram took Lot, Haran’s son, into his own household. Lot therefore traveled with him—first to the land of Haran, and then to Canaan, down to Egypt, and back again. In these excursions, Lot walked hundreds of miles alongside his uncle—hundreds of miles through all kinds of terrain, facing all the perils of nomadic life together.

Coming up out of Egypt, Scripture says, “Now Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and in gold” (Genesis 13:2). His possessions had grown in his travels. The word rich in Hebrew (kabad or kabed) literally translates to weight or burden. Lot “had flocks and herds and tents” as well (Genesis 13:5), so Abram and Lot were both burdened with many worldly possessions.

Abram and Lot were both burdened with many worldly possessions.

As you can imagine, there would have been a massive physical weight to their abundant precious metals. Likewise, the provisions needed to sustain such large flocks and such a large household would have also weighed a significant amount. But this weight of possessions goes beyond this simple meaning—there was a relational weight as well.

The text reads, “the land could not support both of them dwelling together” (Genesis 13:6). Literally, the land could not bear them (Hebrew lo nasa/nasah eth erets). It is implied that there were not enough resources to uphold such massive flocks in the same location, which would include access to water, food, and space. The abundance of riches, therefore, strained their access to natural resources.

This prosperity, instead of bringing peace or helping them thrive, caused discord among the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. Their possessions became something that caused tension and frustration, rather than something that brought them together as a family. The burden of riches impacted the relationships between the herdsmen, Lot and Abram's ability to dwell in the land together, and likely frustrated the animals as they could not thrive in that location all together.

Realizing the problems among their people, Abram offered Lot the ability to separate from him—to become a leader of his own household and depart in whatever direction he would choose. Matthew Henry aptly writes, “Poverty and labour, wants and wanderings, could not separate Abram and Lot; but riches did so.”  

Our Response

How often have we let the desires and cares of this world get in the way of our relationships? For instance, a family may divide over an inheritance, fighting for a share in money or items that are presumed to be deserved by them. Or perhaps a family struggles to spend time together because parents are too busy working so they can buy newer and nicer things. There are countless ways we can turn our gaze from the people in our lives to the things in our lives, exchanging meaningful and strengthened relationships for personal gain.

Have we allowed physical gain—money, possessions, riches of any kind—to cause tension or discord among our family, friends, or church community? Surely this is a temptation for all of us, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

The weight of riches caused the land to be unsuitable for Lot and Abram to dwell together. It impacted their ability, and all those who were with them, to be content in the location God had called them to dwell in. Sewing seeds of discontentment, the burden of earthly possessions impacted Abram, Lot, and all who were with them.

Prayer for This Week

Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for everything You have so graciously provided for us. Help us to see all possessions and wealth as gifts from Your hand, and help us to extend our help and support to others as we can. Open our eyes to the needs of others so that we can help them as needed. Strengthen the bonds of our families, friendships, and church relationships, that we can build up rather than tear apart what You have graciously given us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Make a Donation and Receive Your “Jonah and the Great Fish” iBIBLE Puzzle