“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” — Romans 12:18
Paul’s words are simple but deeply challenging. Peace is not always possible—Paul is realistic about that. But as far as it depends on you, live peacefully with people. It’s a call to step away from the instinct to win, to defend, to assert, and to grab the best portion for ourselves.
Whenever I reflect on this verse, my mind always goes to Abraham in Genesis 13.
Abraham Had Every Right to Choose First
When the land could no longer support both households, Abraham—being older, chosen by God, and the rightful leader—had every cultural right to pick the better land.
Yet Abraham does something shocking:
He lets Lot choose first.
And Lot, seeing the lush Jordan Valley, chooses what looks like the better portion.
Abraham doesn’t argue.
He doesn’t negotiate.
He doesn’t fight for his rights.
He simply lets Lot take the best land.
Why?
Because Abraham valued peace over possession, and trust over territory.
Abraham Could Let Go Because He Trusted God
Abraham didn’t cling tightly to “the better portion” because he knew something deeper:
His blessing did not depend on the land he chose.
His blessing depended on the God who called him.
In other words:
- Lot could take the greener fields,
- Lot could take the fertile plains,
- Lot could take the strategic land—
—but Lot could not take God’s promise.
Abraham could release the visible because he trusted the invisible.
He wasn’t threatened that someone else might “take the best,” because God Himself was Abraham’s portion.
Why Do We Fight for the Best Portion?
So often, we act in the exact opposite spirit.
- We fight for the better deal.
- We argue for the better portion.
- We push for the advantage.
- We fear being taken advantage of.
- We become harsh with neighbours, coworkers, or family—
all because we’re scared someone will end up with more than us.
But that fear reveals something:
We don’t fully believe that God Himself is our source.
We think the “best portion” is something visible we must grab, protect, or fight for. And in doing so, we often damage relationships far more valuable than the thing we’re fighting over.
Let Them Take It. God Is With You.
Romans 12:18 calls us to a radically different posture:
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”
You can’t control others.
You can’t control their reactions.
You can’t control their choices.
But you can choose peace.
You can choose humility.
You can choose gentleness.
You can choose not to fight for the visible advantage.
You can say:
“If they want the better portion, let them have it.
God is with me.”
Sometimes the most powerful expression of faith is not claiming something—but releasing it.
The Gospel Gives Us This Posture
Because of Christ, we already have:
- a secure future,
- a complete identity,
- the Father’s favour,
- the riches of His grace.
We don’t need to win earthly battles when we have a heavenly inheritance.
Abraham let Lot choose because he trusted God’s promise.
We can pursue peace because we trust Christ’s finished work.
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