Genesis 23:17
And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure
The field and cave at Machpelah before Mamre is at Hebron, later called Mamre, and it became the burial place of the patriarchs. Although the whole of Canaan had been promised as an everlasting possession and Abraham had been told to walk through its length and breadth, he owned none of it, not even a foot of ground. So when Sarah died he owned no ground to bury her and had to buy this field from the Canaanites for her burial. It remained his only possession in the promised land, which neither he nor his descendants received during their lifetimes.
The verse therefore shows that Abraham did not treat this world as his home but lived as a pilgrim and stranger in it. In the same way, God's people do not realize full prosperity now in land or gold or silver. As pilgrims they must leave positions of self-interest when God calls and follow the light given regardless of consequences.
Abraham was satisfied with his pilgrim lot because he was shown immortal life on this earth purified as his true home and the city designed and built by God, the greater inheritance that had been promised. Christians hold the same claim to future immortal life and an eternal weight of glory while seeking that city.