Prefer the other
Abraham gives Lot first choice
When the land could no longer support both their herds, Abraham — the elder, the one with every right to choose first — defers to his nephew Lot. Let there be no strife between us, he says; the whole land is before you. If you take the left, I will go the right.
The senior man hands the junior the first pick, and Lot chooses the lush Jordan valley, leaving Abraham the poorer land. Abraham preferred peace and his nephew's good over his own advantage and rights. It is a small picture of a large principle: outdo one another in showing honor, seeking your neighbor's good over your own.
“Let there be no strife between me and you... If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right.”
— Abraham, to Lot — Genesis 13:8-9 (WEB)
Outdo one another in honor and deference. Like Abraham giving Lot first choice, prefer others' good over your own advantage.
“Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor's good.”
Abraham, the senior with first rights, deferred to his nephew for the sake of peace. A leader formed here holds his rights and advantages loosely, ready to give them away to honor another. He seeks his neighbor's good over his own. The inner work is preferring others enough to surrender an advantage.
Look for advantages and rights you can give away to honor others and keep the peace. Defer to others' good rather than asserting your rightful place. Compete to honor, not to win. Model surrendering an advantage, which teaches a team more than any policy on humility.
Leaders are quick to claim their rights and rightful place, missing chances to honor others by deferring. The blind spot is asserting advantage where humility would surrender it.
Identify one rightful advantage or first-choice you hold. This week, give it away to honor someone else, as Abraham gave Lot first pick.
Leaders are usually quick to assert their rights and their rightful place. Abraham, with the seniority to claim first choice, gave it away for the sake of peace and his nephew's good. Honoring others above ourselves often means surrendering an advantage we could rightly have kept.
Where could you, like Abraham, give away a rightful advantage to honor someone else and keep the peace?