Week 96 - Free Weekend Program for Children

Date: June 21, 2025

Text: Genesis 13:1–9

Theme: Material Prosperity and Spiritual Fruit

From Genesis 12, we learn that as believers, God is our defender. He delivers us from evil, fights on our behalf, and provides the grace we need to overcome. The Lord says, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” (Romans 12:19). This is why we must trust Him and not take matters into our own hands—especially in times of fear or difficulty. When we are oppressed by tyrants or trapped in seemingly impossible situations, we can still trust that God will deliver us, just as He promised in Isaiah 49:24–26.

God’s power does not stop at external threats—He also saves us from the sin that entangles our hearts. No lust is too fierce, no habit too entrenched, no darkness too deep for the transforming power of Jesus Christ. As Charles Spurgeon boldly declared, “We can overcome through the power of Christ!” Are you leaning into that power, or are you still wrestling alone? As Christians, our eternal soul will never perish, even if the flesh dies.

In Genesis 13, Abraham returns from Egypt not only with material riches but also richer in faith and in the grace of God. He doesn’t cling to his wealth or boast in his status. Instead, he builds an altar and calls on the name of the Lord, anchoring his soul in communion with God.

This act reflects his growing relationship with God especially after the fearful encounter with Pharaoh. Though Pharaoh was powerful, he could not harm Abraham because God intervened. God struck Pharaoh’s household with plagues to protect Sarah (Genesis 12:17), proving His sovereignty.

How did Abraham respond? He sought the face of God, establishing what we can now see as a pattern of regular communion. Can we say the same? When God delivers us, do we return to Him in awe and gratitude—or do we become distracted by the very blessings He has given?

Abraham’s story challenges us: material wealth, while a gift, brings its own trials. Yet Abraham was not merely rich in silver and gold—he was rich in grace, walking in the meekness and humility that only the Spirit of God can produce (Galatians 5:22). When strife broke out between his herdsmen and Lot’s, Abraham didn’t assert his authority or demand his rights (1 Corinthians 13:5).

Instead, this older, wealthier man chose peace, offering Lot the first choice of land. That is spiritual maturity! That is the wisdom of God—living out Hebrews 12:14, which calls us to “pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”

Imagine the witness if we, as believers, consistently choose humility over pride, peace over conflict, and trust over self-preservation—esteeming others above ourselves.

So let’s pause and examine our hearts:

Is this our testimony?

Are we communing with God daily, feasting on His Word, and pouring out our hearts in prayer? Are we bearing the fruit of the Spirit—holiness, peace, meekness, and gentleness? Or have we allowed the pursuit of wealth, status, or comfort to dull our spiritual sensitivity?

The apostle John’s prayer in 3 John 2 for Gaius—that he would prosper as his soul prospers—is a clear call to us. Spiritual prosperity must eclipse material gain. Without Christ, riches can lead to pride, arrogance, and a dangerous drifting from God. Proverbs 30:8–9 wisely pleads for neither poverty nor riches, lest we forget the Lord.

Wealth isn’t sinful, but it is a stewardship that is in desperate need of the grace of God.

It tempts us to:

• Trust in bank accounts rather than God’s provision.

• Become proud and self-sufficient.

• Chase fleeting distractions over eternal priorities.

• Despair over criticism or isolation because of our blessings.

Yet, in Christ, we can use wealth as a tool for God’s glory. Every good gift comes from above (James 1:17), and by His grace—if it pleases God—we can be both rich and holy, like Abraham. He wasn’t perfect, but he grew in faith through sanctifying grace.

Let us ask God to keep our communion with Him vibrant—nurtured through earnest desire, diligent Bible study, heartfelt prayer, and intimacy with the Holy Spirit through submissive obedience. He alone can guard our hearts against the subtle pull of riches, which can quietly draw us away from Christ.

We are not owners but stewards—called to generosity, sincere love, and trust in Christ. Psalm 62:10 warns, “If riches increase, set not your heart on them.” And Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:21, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Where is your heart today? Is it fixed on Christ, or entangled in the fleeting glitter of this world?

Let’s give glory to God with every resource, every talent, and every breath. Let us be a people rich in faith, overflowing with the fruit of holiness, and unwavering in our trust in Christ. All of this—every step, every victory—is possible only by the grace of God. With Him, all things are possible.

Let Us Pray

Lord, ignite our hearts with a passion for You above all else. Strip away our reliance on wealth or self, and fill us with Your grace to live humbly, generously, and in holiness. Let our lives radiate Your glory, bearing fruit that lasts for eternity.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.