Men’s Ministry Small group bible study, prayer and sharing- men upholding other men in their daily life Please contact: Harold Lean

True Riches and the Ambitious Man Genesis 13 :1-18

10 Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, towards Zoar. So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east.

What Lot really saw He saw an opportunity to be very prosperous materially.

Business failures do not just begin with corporate mismanagement issues. 13:12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tent near Sodom. 14:12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom. Lot’s eventually disaster, both financially and personally, started subtly with a relational failure.

What Lot really saw He saw an opportunity to be very prosperous materially. He saw his relationship with Abram as a means to an end.

When God becomes an end to our means

10 Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, towards Zoar. So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east.

What Lot really saw He saw an opportunity to be very prosperous materially. He saw his relationship with Abram as a means to an end. He saw himself as Master of his own destiny.

Take a step back….what do you see? He saw an opportunity to be very prosperous materially. He saw his relationship with others as a means to an end. He saw himself as Master of his own destiny.

What did Abram really see? He saw the need for repentance of his past actions. Read: Chapter 11: 8 Chapter 12: Chapter 13: 3-4 Our starting point for any journey in life is to reflect and repent of our sins.

What did Abram really see? He saw the need for repentance of his past actions. He saw his identity NOT defined by his vocation.

It’s not just vocation that defines our identity…..

What did Abram really see? He saw the need for repentance of his past actions. He saw his identity NOT defined by his vocation. He saw the importance of persevering his relationship with Lot.

What did Abram really see? He saw the need for repentance of his past actions. He saw his identity NOT defined by his vocation. He saw the importance of persevering his relationship with Lot. He saw the assurance of God in his journey of faith.

The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. (v14-17) Check out Hebrews 11:11-12

Privileged few Selected few vying for even fewer post Many people vying for limited posts Emperor of the Middle Kingdom grooming the ambitions of his subjects.

Us- his descendants like the dust of the earth (v16) Jesus Abraham

Godly ambition checklist Do you see yourself as a success or failure? Success in society’s eyes Success in your own eyes Success in God’s eyes

Godly ambition checklist Do you see yourself as a success or failure? How aware are you of sinful ambitions?

Godly ambition checklist Do you see yourself as a success or failure? How aware are you of sinful ambitions? How conscious are you of your treatment of others? How much risk are you prepared to take for God?

Is your ambition to be like Jesus? Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit….Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: “Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:3,5-11

How to start? Start small Dream big Dig deep Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matt 10:39