Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/98

 whose protection  the  enemies  are  in  thy  hands." Abram  gave him  the  tithes  of  the  booty.  The  king  of  Sodom  then  said  to Abram:  “Give  me  the  persons,  and  the  rest  take  to  thyself.”  But Abram  would  accept  of  no  reward.

Peacemaking. Abram  was  a lover  of  peace. He was  older  than Lot and,  moreover,  the  head  of  the  family;  yet  he  withdrew  in  his favour, and  gave  him  the  choice  of  the  best  pasturage,  rather  than  that there should  be  any  further  strife. We ought  to  love  peace  in  the same way,  and  prevent  quarrelling  and  fighting,  as  far  as  we  can. We ought to  give  up  an  advantage,  and  suffer  some  loss,  rather  than  begin a quarrel; for  we  are  all  brethren  in  Jesus  Christ. “Blessed are  the peace-makers, for  they  shall  be  called  the  children  of  God.”

Abram's disinterestedness  was  shown  by  his  conduct  on  two  occasions; first,  towards  Lot,  and  next,  towards  the  king  of  Sodom. When Abram found  it  necessary  to  separate  from  Lot,  he  did  not  consult his own  interests  by  keeping  the  best  part  of  the  country  for  himself, though it  was  to  him  and  not  to  Lot  that  God  had  promised  the  whole land; but  he  gave  Lot  his  free  choice  of  the  best  pasturage. Then, when the  king  of  Sodom  offered  him  all  his  booty  as  a reward,  he refused  to  keep  anything  for  himself. He had  undertaken  the  dangerous war out  of  pure  love,  without  any  thought  of  his  own  profit  or  advantage. His love  was,  therefore,  quite  disinterested.

This noble  disposition  of  Abram  puts  to  shame  those  Christians who are  always  seeking  their  own  advantage,  and  who  will  not  even show a kindness  to  anyone,  without  hope  of  reward. But did  Abram, then, receive  no  reward? Yes, he  received  the  reward  of  a good  conscience. The consciousness  that  he  had  done  a good  work,  and  had deserved a reward  of  God,  filled  his  heart  with  very  great  joy. We, too, ought  to  value  the  approbation  of  our  own  consciences  and  of Almighty  God,  far  more  than  the  praise  and  rewards  of  this  world.

Real love  of  our  neighbour. When  Abram  learnt  the  misfortune which had  overtaken  his  nephew,  he  decided  at  once  to  go  to  his  help. He remembered  no  more  Lot’s  selfish  and  ungrateful  conduct,  but  only remembered his  present  necessity  and  misfortune. He sincerely  loved Lot, and  wished  to  help  him,  even  at  the  risk  of  great  danger;  for, after all,  these  powerful  kings  might  easily  have  defeated  him,  and killed or  taken  him  prisoner.