Decisions: What Direction Are They Taking You?

Genesis 13:10-13 

Reading:         Gen 13:1-9

Songs:            What Will You Answer Be

Theme: stay faithful to God while seeking what you want out of life

INTRODUCTION

           A.        If there was something both you and a friend could have used, desired, but there was only enough of it for one of you, what would you do if you were given the first choice of taking it or leaving it?

           B.        Lot's story, perhaps not unlike many in some ways, is a sad story from the pages of the Bible. His is an example of a life that seemed to have started with promise, but which got side tracked along the way, in pursuit of what the world had to offer him rather that what God was willing to offer. As a result, Lot almost lost everything that was important to him.

           C.        Lot’s had gone to where he had no business being and he ended up being in the wrong place. Lot had begun with Abraham but, because of lack of room, for the two of them in the same area, due to the great amount of which they both owned, they separated. The scriptures tell us, “And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle” (Gen 13:6-7). Abraham gave Lot first choice of wherever he wanted to go. Unfortunately, seeing the seemingly good land of Sodom, that was the direction Lot went with what was his family and all he had.

           D.        Some here today aren't in Sodom yet, but they have pitched their tent toward it so to speak, toward sin, wickedness, in the pursuit of worldly happiness. Those who have, are leaning in a direction away from heaven. Lot’s experience could be part of the experience you have had with life. Let's consider Lot's choice to see if we might learn from it, if we might receive reason to think more seriously about where our choices are leading us.

I.         LOT'S DESIRE WAS CARNAL (Gen 13:10).

           A.        Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan ... before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 13:10).

KJV

10              ¶ And Lot <03876> lifted up <05375> (8799) his eyes <05869>, and beheld <07200> (8799) all the plain <03603> of Jordan <03383>, that it was well watered <04945> every whin ere, before <06440> the LORD <03068> destroyed <07843> (8763) Sodom <05467> and Gomorrah <06017>, even as the garden <01588> of the LORD <03068>, like the land <0776> of Egypt <04714>, as thou comest <0935> (8800) unto Zoar <06820>.January 23, 2003January 23, 2003

                       1.        Lot, having first choice, looked toward Sodom, and on the surface it look very inviting.

                                   a.        Lot had spiritual nearsightedness and could see beyond what was spiritually, immediately before him.

                                   b.        Many Christians do the same thing in living for right now without consideration of eternity.

                                   c.         His desire was based on what he could physically see, not what he could see spiritually.

                                               (1)       It is the same problem that occurred in the garden with Eve (Gen. 3:6).

                                               (2)       It is the same thing that occurred with David (2Sa 11:2).

                                               (3)       On what did you base the decisions you made last year or the previous years? Were they base solidly on what would be God’s will or just on what you or somebody close to you desired (2Co 5:7)?

                                               (4)       We should not make our decisions based only on what we physically see but should always take God in account with our decision!

                       2.        Lot’s decision was also based on selfishness and personal gain (Col 3:2).

                                   a.        Frequently it is the is pursuit of personal gain, at the expense of others, usually family members, which gets many Christians into trouble

                                   b.        When we make decisions, let’s not forget about the others who are affected by our decision and resolve that if the decision is not good for them, we won’t do it.

Transition: Spiritual near sightedness and selfishness lead Lot to living carelessly.

II.        LOT'S DIRECTION WAS CARELESS (Gen 13:11-12).

           A.        ... Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom ... (Gen 13:11-12).

11              Then Lot <03876> chose <0977> (8799) him all the plain <03603> of Jordan <03383>; and Lot <03876> journeyed <05265> (8799) east <06924>: and they separated themselves <06504> (8735) the one <0376> from the other <0251>.

12              Abram <087> dwelled <03427> (8804) in the land <0776> of Canaan <03667>, and Lot <03876> dwelled <03427> (8804) in the cities <05892> of the plain <03603>, and pitched his tent <0167> (8799) toward <05704> Sodom <05467>.

                       1.        Lot separated himself from Abraham.

                       2.        Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, having pitched his tent toward Sodom.

                       3.        Unlike the direction taken by Lot, the way of the the people of the world, God’s people are called not to conform to the ways and attitudes of the world (Rom 12:2).

                       4.        Lot’s direction was the way toward wickedness but God’s people are supposed to take the way away from wickedness (Psa 1:6; 1Th 5:22).

Transition: Are you abstaining from every evil or giving into it? Lot, having set his mind on worldliness compromised his devotion to God.

III.       LOT'S DEVOTION WAS COMPROMISED

           A.         (Gen 13:13).

13              But the men <0582> of Sodom <05467> were wicked <07451> and sinners <02400> before the LORD <03068> exceedingly <03966>.

                       1.        Lot's decision was costly to him.

                                   a.        His two married daughter’s and their husbands perished in the destruction.

                                   b.        He lost all he had accumulated in the destruction.

                                   c.         His wife having turned back to look, perhaps longing to the city where were her children and possession, was also destroyed (Gen 19:26;cp. Luk 17:32).

                       2.        Let’s consider a few of the results of Lot's pitching his tent toward Sodom.

                                   a.        His actions were tainted by worldly thinking (Gen 19:1-8).

                                               (1)       He demonstrated his grasp of righteousness was blurred in that he thought it less immoral to offer his daughters to the sodomites to defile rather then allowing for the homosexual behavior.

                                               (2)       So for you and I if we are not careful to prevent ourselves from becoming tainted by worldliness (Gal 6:7).

                                               (3)       Lot had sowed to Sodom and so from it he reaped.

                                   b.        His message became sterile given God would not have destroyed the city if there were at least 10 righteous people there.

                                               (1)       Lot and his wife had at least four daughters and two sons-in-law, for a possible minimum of eight righteous people (Gen 18:32).

                                               (2)       He was unable in the whole city to lead ten people with God’s word.

                                               (3)       Even at that his married daughters, if they were still living at the time, and there husbands seem unaffected by any teaching Lot did or example he set.

                                   c.         His will became soft.

                                               (1)       Even lot, knowing what was about to befall Sodom, had to be forced to leave (Gen19:15-17)

                                               (2)       Lot had demonstrated the affect wickedness had on him by giving himself sinfully, twice, to the effects of alcohol (Gen 19:30-35).

                       3.        Lot's defilement was chronicled or recorded in the Bible for all who read to heed (Rom 15:4).

                                   a.        However, there will come a time when all we have done will be consider.

                                   b.        All will give account for their idle words and misdeeds to the flesh (Mat 12:36).

                                   c.         The idol things we say with our mouths and what we do in the flesh will also be chronicled in a book (Rev 17:8; 20:12; 15; 21:27; 22:19).

Conclusion:

Don't pitch your tent even toward Sodom! Don't even lean in the direction which is the direction of the world, the flesh, and the devil! If you have, put it away form you while there is time and turn toward God. Press forward to where you should be in life (Php 3:13-14). Are you pressing toward the mark or missing it?

We can choose our reputation (Pro 22:1).

We can choose the people with whom we associate (Heb 11:24-25).

We choose whether to be saved or lost .

We can choose whom we will spiritually serve (Jos 24:15).

Today, what will you choose for your life?

Questions:

Discuss how choices affect reputation.

Discuss how some would rather go along with the crowd.

Sources:

Michael D. O'Neal, HIS TENT WAS PITCHED TOWARD SODOM; HOW TO BEGIN THE NEW MILLENNIUM WITH GOD

in charity through Christ, Raymond Wiseman

What the world says about lot and sodom
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