The faith and fidelity of Abram was beautifully shown in his appeal to Lot, when the desire for material place and property threatened to destroy the loving relationship that had existed between them. The increasing herds of the two men made the fields of Canaan inadequate, and "there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle." Therefore Abram offered Lot his choice of all the surrounding land, and lovingly agreed to accept the land which was not wanted, saying, "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren."
That Abram's consciousness was free from strife is demonstrated by what followed. He had no sooner effected a friendly separation from Lot than he heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art ...for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever." Lot's selfishness blinded his vision, and resulted not only in an unwise choice of location, but in much tribulation in the years to come; while Abram continued to demonstrate his understanding of the Word of God, which he frequently heard, receiving spiritual blessings as well as material wealth, and gaining historical credit for being the founder of the religion of the Hebrews.
Christian Scientists are realizing the necessity of keeping their thought free from strife, as did Abram, or Abraham. They know that to abandon open warfare but continue mental strife is only changing the form of error—not overcoming it; and there is, perhaps, no mental strife more subtle or more tenacious than that condition of thought known as intolerance or bigotry. It comes, usually with plausible excuses for its presence, to blind its victim with resentment and hatred toward those who hold differing views. An old grievance, or perhaps an "inherited" religious prejudice, may be the soil in which the intolerant thought will take root and grow, until it inflames with animosity and passion such as in olden times resulted in murderous atrocities.
