I remember a song by Bob Dylan, and yes, I’m a fan, called Political World. Its a world of strife and maneuvering to secure your slice of the pie.

It’s a fixed-pie-thinking world in which your success equals my failure. If your slice is large, mine must of necessity be smaller.

Small men with inflated egos pushing pawns on the board.

God lives in an ever-expanding limitless world of infinite possibility.

Expand The Pie By Helping Others

He knows that to help others is to help oneself. With the measure your mete it’ll be meted unto you. Give and it will be given, sow much, reap much!

That is why I believe in sharing what you know. Giving away what you have secured. Hand it on so your hands remain empty ready to receive the multiplied return.

Guess which of these worlds the herdmen of Gerar pitched their hopes…

“And the herdsmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.” (Genesis 26:20–21 KJV)

Esek means contention, argument or quarrel, and as we know:

“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” (Proverbs 13:10 KJV)

Make no mistake, the subterranean river that feeds this well always leads back to pride.

Bitter Waters

Have you ever drawn from the well of contention? The waters are bitter!

With regard to our discussion of faithful-preneurism this should be a timely reminder about the nature of money. Money is a good servant in the hands of a good man, but always a terrible master. The deceptive nature of riches and the pursuit of other things can quickly creep in and steal contentment.

Money alone cannot be the sole pursuit for the Christian creative.

Where the treasure is the heart follows. Our treasure is people. Investing in others and digging for the treasure that they carry is our call.

In the words of the Minimalists, “Love people, use things, not the other way round.”

Don’t Sit For Too Long In Sitnah

Isaac was well advised by the Holy Ghost and chose to give place rather than strive. Clearly he strove for something deeper.

The next port of call was also a hotbed.

Sitnah!

A well of hatred and hostility.

One thing leads to another when we give way to bitterness. Contention and disagreements given place lead to hatred and hostility.

Why do we hear Jesus so often address the dangers of unforgiveness? Even to the point of declaring that God will give no consideration to our requests without our first forgiving those who have wronged us?

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25–26 KJV)

He says the same thing about bringing an offering to the feet of the King. First, resolve your differences then bring your gift to the altar.

Forgive and Move On

If you desire to prosper these two wells which will inevitably present themselves, goading you to drive your stake in the ground and refuse to move. Better bitter waters than no waters at all. A certain satisfaction comes from hating and blaming others, but is it a poisonous brew that will kill you slowly.

God’s advice to lay your grievances aside is born from the knowledge that unforgiveness binds only the one who holds it in their heart. The bitter man or woman bind themselves with their own chains.

God has better things for you.

The pie is not fixed. There is more than enough for you, and no man can take the inheritance God has set aside for you.

With the well-advised is wisdom, and the wells of Esek and Sitnah are not a place to pitch your future.

If your heart today needs to say sorry and let go of past hurts, lay them down and do as the patriarch did…

“He removed from thence” (Genesis 26:22 KJV)