Genesis 13:7-8-and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. 8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. 
As much as Christians should think highly about the Word of God, the Church’s mission for the gospel, and even respect for their own calling.  It is the genuine love for God to empower unity among one another, that makes us “salt and light”, effective instead of ineffective, and basically irrelevant to the world…
This passage shows the heart of Abram (or Abraham) the father of the faith, that he understood the environment he and his nephew Lot were in.  That being among “unbelievers” and enemies of God, that their internal strife would serve against them for God’s purpose.  Abraham knew that as long as he enabled disunity, faith to do what God called him to do, would prove to be unfruitful and in vain…
As Christians we know that we do not war against “flesh and blood”, but spiritual darkness.  But some things that serve to be obvious signs of spiritual wickedness, don’t take prayer and fasting!  Abraham knew that fighting within his family, was never going to promote the call of God to lead his family, and be a “united front” against outside enemies!-(the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land).
The strife that Abraham was attached to was something he could handle, so he did right away!  Unlike Abraham, when we “put off” things that we know we could handle, it doesn’t go away, it grows!  Though the strife was not between him and Lot personally, he was attached to it, and as the one God called, he was responsible to handle it!
One of the more crucial lessons we eventually end up learning, is to confront the issue.  Of course fear is what grips us from confronting it, but the irony is that it would be better to confront something while it is small, than to wait for it to grow and be terrified by it!  It was”Christlike” for Abram to confront the strife, because he knew others we’re at stake had he ignored the issue.  Instead of preserving himself, he looked to preserve others.  Shouldn’t that be our desire for the sake of other believers, and those “in the land” who have yet to believe?
In His Love, Ld