Archive for June, 2009

How To Fail as a Father

Sunday, June 21st, 2009

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INTRODUCTION

Today I’m going to continue the message series that we are doing here at WPA for the summer entitled, “The Bible’s Biggest Losers”.

One of the things I love about the Bible is that it doesn’t paint all the heroes in the stories as infallible or perfect. In fact, the Holy Spirit is careful to include the “losing” moments as well. It gives hope to all of us who read the Bible who know full well that we’re not perfect people that maybe, just maybe God can use us too!

With it being Father’s day I thought it’d be a good idea to take a look at a father from the Bible and I was drawn to talk about King David. Now, we know David as a great king of Israel and he’s even described as a “man after God’s own heart”. We know the story of David and Goliath, and the incredible odds he overcame to fulfill the anointing God placed on his life as a King of God’s people. David was so great that one of the titles for the Messiah, Jesus Christ is “Son of David” tying the human lineage of Jesus to David himself. What an honor.

However, those familiar with King David also know that there are some tragic stories in David’s life where he failed dramatically and it cost him dearly. If you want to read up on the incredible story of David and his reign over Israel you can find it in 1 Samuel 16-31, all of 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1-2, and 1 Chronicles 11-29. You can also get a feel for David’s passions and artistry by reading many of the Psalms he wrote.

Today, we’re going to zero in on a particularly tragic moment in David’s life in 2 Samuel 18,

5 The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders. 6 The army marched into the field to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. 7 There the army of Israel was defeated by David’s men, and the casualties that day were great–twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword. 9 Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going. 10 When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.” 11 Joab said to the man who had told him this, “What! You saw him? Why didn’t you strike him to the ground right there? Then I would have had to give you ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt.” 12 But the man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels were weighed out into my hands, I would not lift my hand against the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’ 13 And if I had put my life in jeopardy–and nothing is hidden from the king–you would have kept your distance from me.” 14 Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this for you.” So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. 15 And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him. 16 Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and the troops stopped pursuing Israel, for Joab halted them..
2 Samuel 18:5-18 (NIV)

In this snapshot of David’s life I chose to begin with the words of David instructing 3 of his generals to be gentle with his son Absalom. Yet dramatically, we discover that they are far from gentle. In fact, Absalom’s life is brutally taken. How did things get to this point? How did things get to the point where Absalom is leading the army of Israel against his father King David? How did things get to the point where David’s generals would kill his son?

To understand the answer to that question I did some reading over the story of David’s life and I’m going to give you a quick rundown of some things I discovered about his children:

  • The Bible names for us 19 sons and 1 daughter that David had but there is the suggestion that he had many more that were born to his concubines.
  • Of those children we gain greater insight into the lives of five: Amnon, Absalom, Adonijah, Solomon and Tamar:
    • Amnon rapes his half-sister Tamar
    • Tamar is Absalom’s full-sister and when he hears of Amnon’s deed he is furious and plots revenge. He rigs up a celebratory party and invites all his brothers including Amnon to the party where he has his people murder Amnon
    • Absalom is banished from the kingdom for two years to his grandfather’s (on his mother’s side) land and when is returned to Israel he plots to take the kingdom from his father David. Absalom ends up heading up this conspiracy against King David that hit its peak when he had himself crowned King in Hebron and David fled Jerusalem.
    • Absalom raped his father’s concubines when he arrived in Jerusalem.
    • Absalom leads Israel’s armies out to battle David and his men and they lose (as we’ve already read)
    • Adonijah follows in Absalom’s footsteps and plots to undermine David’s authority and steal the kingdom from him but is kept from doing so when King David is informed by the plot and accelerates the crowning of Solomon as King.

It is clear as you read the story of David and his family that David had some faults. From the example of David and the teaching of scripture I’d like to spend a few minutes today answering the question, “How to fail as a father”. Some of you men here today are fathers. Some of you are going to be a father in the coming months. Some of you know someone who is a father or who is going to be a father. Listen up, because I think God has something to say to you today. For the rest of you I also want you to listen carefully because I’m going to share with you how God as our father doesn’t fail!

Now I need to make a couple things clear.

One, there is the reality that each person is responsible for the actions he/she takes in life. Just because a father fails doesn’t necessarily guarantee that his children will do terrible things or live fruitless lives. Just because a father succeeds doesn’t necessarily guarantee that his children will live exemplary lives and be Godly individuals. But a good father will increase the positive potential for their children.

Two, as you listen to this message you may discover some areas where you may be failing as a father or have failed. Don’t allow this discovery to discourage you but instead take it as a challenge to do something about it. Placed before you is the opportunity to make changes so that what you discover is no longer true in your life as a father. Even as I was preparing this message there were some things the Holy Spirit nudged me about that I need to work on in my own life as the father to my children. Being a father is hard work, and no father is perfect. The biggest losers are not those who fail, but those who let their failure define their future actions and decisions because they become comfortable with that failure.

How to fail as a father…

1. Don’t spend time with your children.

This is obvious but so easily forgotten. You want to decrease the positive potential in your children then don’t spend time with them. The next few points I make are dependent on the time that you invest in your kids.

King David teaches us that it doesn’t matter how important of a role you play in the world – your most important role is the one you have in your family as father. If you don’t spend time with your kids then you are abdicating that role.

In King David’s story it is revealing that when Absalom was plotting to get revenge on his brother Amnon for raping his sister he went to his father…well let’s just read it:

23 Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons to come there. 24 Absalom went to the king and said, “Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his officials please join me?” 25 “No, my son,” the king replied. “All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he still refused to go, but gave him his blessing.
2 Samuel 13:23-25 (NIV)

Now why would Absalom even bother to invite his father to come to the celebration knowing full well that if David accepted he wouldn’t be able to pull off what he had planned? Here’s the thing. Absalom had to give the appearance to David that nothing was up by inviting him but Absalom knew that David probably wouldn’t accept. How would Absalom know that? Because of the pattern David had set in his life of not spending time with his children.

Not only that but did you catch the excuse David gave for not attending? “I don’t think I should come, I don’t want to be a burden to you”. What kind of lame excuse is that? I wonder how many lame excuses like that David had given in to his sons when they wanted to go riding horses with him, or have him teach them how to throw a spear, tuck them in at night, or be at their birthday parties?

What are the lame excuses you give your kids for backing out of spending time with them?

I remember once my daughter Jenna came to me and gave me a hug after I spent some time wrestling with her and my other three children (getting to be more dangerous the older they get!) and she said, “Thanks Daddy”. I asked her, “Thanks for what?” “Thanks for spending time with us Daddy” and I said, “Daddy always has time for you guys” Then Jenna floored me, “Sometimes Daddy, but you’re always on your blackberry or the ‘puter”.

BAM! What a gut-wrenching thing to hear from Jenna. I realized I was failing as a father because my daughter was seeing me on the computer and the blackberry more than she was seeing me with her. Which brings me to an important point,

The amount of time is secondary to the quality of your time.

Paul writes to the fathers in the Ephesian church, “Don’t provoke to anger (or exasperate) your children” (Eph. 6:4). Do you know one of the easiest ways to exasperate your children? When you’re in the same room or the same house, or around you’re kids but you’re not really there. When you are present in body but not present in any other way. Kids pick up on that, they know when you’re around but not really present. That is what affects the quality of the time you spend with your children.

As I said earlier spending time with your children is foundational for any of the other things you do as a father with your children…let’s continue (How to fail as a father…)

2. Don’t discipline your kids (or forgive them either).

Listen to this revealing statement about David’s failure as a father,

6 Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” (1 Kings 1:6)

The context of this sentence is that Adonijah had begun boasting that he will make himself king and got some chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him. Yet, it appears as though David is oblivious to this.

What about the rape of David’s daughter Tamar by his son Amnon? All scripture records for us is that David got really angry….um with nothing else. It appears that he didn’t even tend to his daughter for scripture records that Tamar retreated to the home of her brother Abasalom a “desolate woman”. I wonder what seeds of resentment were born in Absalom’s heart towards his father because of the lack action by David in disciplining Amnon?

Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
Proverbs 13:24 (NLT)

Those words were written by David’s son Solomon. I wonder, if Solomon was thinking of the things he saw as a child as a result of the lack of disciplining in his brothers lives?

Where does spending time come in with discipline? If you don’t spend time with your kids then you won’t know what discipline is effective in instructing your kids on the right and wrong in life. (share about how my children differ in what discipline works best in reinforcing boundaries). If you don’t spend time with your children then how will you know WHAT needs to receive discipline?

3. Don’t pass on any spiritual heritage (don’t let you kids know how much you love Jesus) – oh, and don’t pray for your kids either!

Scripture teaches us that David had a rich relationship with God and spent time with Him. But how much of that relationship did David pass on to his sons? Very little it seems because of his not spending time with them.

Want to fail as a father? Don’t pass on any spiritual heritage…let’s think about his…

To begin with, obviously, you can’t pass on any spiritual heritage if you don’t have any. If you don’t cultivate any relationship with God your self then you’re definitely not going to pass anything to your kids.

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NIV)

Second, if you don’t spend any time with your kids and let them observe how much Jesus means to you and guides you in your daily life then you aren’t going to pass on any spiritual heritage.

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV)

Third, passing on a spiritual heritage doesn’t mean that you have a game face for when you around your kids and a hang loose face when you are not. You need to be authentic with your children. They need to know what living as a Christian is really like. They need to know what to do when they mess up from learning by what you do when you mess up. They need to see you live out authentically what you are learning together as you read God’s word and as you make decisions.

This brings me to the next point – to fail as a father…

4. Don’t recognize and value the influence you have in your children’s lives. In other words, don’t fight for your kids.

The reality is, especially in today’s world – there are many things competing for the influence of your children. The saddest thing is that there are many fathers abdicating their role as the primary influence in their child’s life. The amount of positive influence you have in your children’s lives is proportional to the amount of quality time you spend with them.

David had tremendous influence as the God’s anointed king of Israel and he had tremendous influence as a mighty warrior but his influence as a father in his children’s lives was withered because of the limited time he spent with them, his poor discipline of them, and the limited spiritual heritage he passed on to many of them.

Listen carefully Fathers and this applies to mothers as well – parents ARE the primary influencers in their children’s lives. You influence them even when you don’t engage with them. If you fail to recognize the affect of your influence in their lives then you are missing the greatest opportunity God has given you to build positive potential into your children’s lives.

Here’s an important question when it comes to influence…Can you say to your children, ‘Live like I do with NO exceptions? In other words, do you have exceptions to following Christ, like “except for my anger” or “except for my looking at other women”? Don’t think for a minute that David’s sons behaviors weren’t influenced in any way by the activities they saw in their father’s life (David and Bathsheba for example).

When it comes to the important stuff in life don’t leave it to what their peers say, what the school says, or what they read or see. Be on the constant look out for opportunities to be a positive influence in your child’s life!

CONCLUSION

So what are you going to do about it the answers to, “how to fail as a father”? Are you going to get hung up on how you failed as a father or are you going to pursue the responsibility God has given you and be a good father to your children?

I want to finish off with the reinforcement this morning that one of the ways God wants us to relate to Him is to see Him as our Father. Why? Because as our Father God is forever working to build within us increasing positive potential to be better, to do better, and to live the better life He wants for all of us WITH HIM! Do you realize how much he cares about you?

  • God has unlimited time to spend with you and is ALWAYS available. Do you seize the opportunity to spend time with him? Even more He is fully present when you are fully present. Even more, He understands everything you go through, everything you think about, everything about who you are…even more than you understand
  • God cares enough to discipline when necessary. Do you receive or reject that discipline? Do you understand His desire that you would achiever your POTENTIAL?
  • Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.
    • Deuteronomy 8:5 (NLT)
    • God is perfect but He never expects us to be perfect. He requires it, yes, because He is holy, but He made it possible for us to attain perfection via the willing sacrifice He himself made as Jesus Christ. God wants us to be like him. He wants us to be like Jesus. He wants us to be better and KNOWS OUR POTENTIAL. In some ways, God knows that we fail, and He knows that we fall short of the mark – which IS WHY HE IS READY TO PICK US UP AGAIN AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD. (
  • He cares enough to make possible incredible spiritual resources in the scriptures, in the church, and in the investment of Himself as the Holy Spirit.
  • Finally, know that God as our Father FIGHTS for you. Not in the sense that He always takes on your battles but that HE makes sure you have every possibility to know Him as the primary influence in your life. HE paid the ULTIMATE price so you could know Him as YOUR Father. Maybe you’ve lived a life where no one has fought for you. Maybe you are even feeling that way right now. You need to know this morning that God fights for you – HE wants you as His child, He DOESN’T WANT YOU to know the pain of hell, the pain of eternal separation from Him. HE’S made it possible for you to know HIM. Once you understand the wooing nature of God’s GRACE there is an irresistible pull to answer His invitation….
  • As our Father God has ALWAYS initiated communication on the important stuff. From the Dawn of creation He has done so. Creation itself is God’s initiation. Of course, nothing speaks louder than the sacrifice Christ made on our behalf – what more could God do to demonstrate His love for us (and the price that must be paid for sin).

Invitation to the altar.

PRAY

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Lot: The Man Who Compromised

Sunday, June 21st, 2009

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INTRODUCTION

Tonight we are continuing the series WPA is doing through the summer on the “Bible’s Biggest Losers”.

I’d like to introduce to you the man we will be looking at this evening. His name is Lot – and I guess he could be known as the man who compromised…

We first learn of Lot in the latter part of Genesis 11 where he is described as the grandson of a man named Terah. Terah, it turns out is the father of a man who probably is familiar to a lot of us – Abram (who would later be known as Abraham, the father of Israel). Terah had three sons: Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Lot is born to Haran and in the same passage we learn that Haran died fairly young.

It appears from this passage that Lot comes into the care of his uncle Abram and one of his first journeys recorded in the Bible is when Terah took Abram, Sarai (Abram’s wife) and Lot from where they lived (Ur of the Chaldeans) to go to Canaan. Only, they didn’t make it quite that far and ended up staying in another place named Haran (the namesake of Lot’s father)

In Genesis 12 there is the famous “call of God” upon Abraham and we read how Abram is commanded by God to “…Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” (Gen. 12:1) When Abram gets up to leave we find recorded in verse 4 that, “Lot went with him.” It is interesting to note that the next time we find his name mentioned it is found in the same phrase,

Genesis 13:1 (NIV)
…and Lot went with him.

Lot, it seems, had a good relationship with his uncle and wasn’t about to give that up.

It is in chapter 13 where the Bible starts to fill in a little more detail regarding the story of Lot’s life. Up to this point Abram and Lot appear inseparable but then we find that strife begins to arise between the servants of Lot and Abram. The strife was over the fact that each man’s herdsmen sought water and the best pasture for the animals of their master. This competition inevitably led to conflict between the herdsmen of Lot and Abram. The Bible says that both Abram and Lot had been blessed with many possessions, “…But the land could not support them while they stayed together.” (Genesis 13:6a).

Abram notices this strife and calls Lot to him in order to resolve the issue.

READ GENESIS 13:8-18

8 Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! 9 The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.” 10 Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. 12 So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain. 13 But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord. 14 After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction-north and south, east and west. 15 I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. 16 And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! 17 Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.” 18 So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the Lord.
Genesis 13:8-18 (NLT)

It appears as though Lot has got the better end of the deal but then as we continue into Chapter 14 we learn that Lot finds himself caught in the middle of an international conflict. Some kings begin warring in the area where Lot and his people are living and the Bible records that they are carried off with all his possessions as captives of war.

Abram soon becomes aware of this and rushes in to the rescue miraculously defeating Lot’s captors and freeing him, as well as freeing all the other captives and their possessions.

The Bible is silent about Lot for a while and then he is again mentioned in Genesis 19. In chapter 18 we learn about God communicating with Abraham his intention to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness. Abraham, (knowing his nephew Lot lives there), pleads with God this leads God to declare He will spare the city if only 10 righteous people are found.

READ GENESIS 19 (NIV)

This then is the story of the man named Lot. When I studied his story the first word that came to my mind to describe him was the word compromise. If you look in the dictionary you’ll find that this word is used to describe a method of reaching agreement in a dispute, by which each side surrenders something that it wants. In this way compromise is used in a positive sense. However the word compromise also is used to describe placing something in jeopardy or bringing into danger, or exposing to a loss of reputation. In this way compromise is used in a negative sense. For instance, when a thief breaks into someone’s home we say that the owner’s security has been compromised. In using this word to describe Lot tonight I am using it in the negative sense. In other words I think that Lot is a man that placed many things in jeopardy in his life. Even though he is described by Peter in 2 Peter 2:7-8 as righteous – there is also evidence that this righteous man made some bad decisions that compromised many areas of his life. When we look at Lot’s story we see the process of a life that starts out so well but ends up so badly as a result of the gradual process of a series of poor decisions. It is the story of a man who compromised.

What led Lot to compromise?

We’re going to be looking this morning at just what it is that Lot compromised (or placed in jeopardy) but before we do that I think it is important to establish why or what led him to compromise these things in his life.

And the answer to that is very simple – it is seen in his choice or decision at the resolution to the strife between Abraham and Himself. As Lot gazed over the lush fertile plain of Jordan – he saw the incredible opportunity to improve his place in the world. To improve his life – his view of an ideal life. Lot is the perfect example of the human tendency to look out for number one.

I know I’m not immune to this tendency! I remember when I was young that whenever my sister and I would fight over something we were supposed to share – the fight was always about who got the biggest, the best, or the most! For instance, a single chocolate bar would never be split exactly in half and it was always a given that either my sister or I would put up a fight about getting the “smaller” half even though the difference was insignificant. One day my mom caught to a neat idea that I’ve used this with my children. One of us could split the chocolate bar in half but the other person got first choice of which half to take! A simple solution to a childish problem. It is childish isn’t it? Yet, it seems that this characteristic doesn’t disappear as we grow older. We just learn to be more civilized in looking out for number one.

Lot’s behavior in looking out for number one manifested itself in many ways.

Blinded Him to the dangers of Sodom
When it came to making decisions Lot went with what appealed most to his earthly appetites and was blind to the dangers of Sodom. In other words, Lot saw what was best for him in this world rather than what was worst for his spirit. When he looked out at the fertile valley of the Jordan plain, Lot saw only how he could potentially increase his possessions in this world instead of the spiritual dangers found in the cities of the plain.

It would be naïve to think that Lot was not aware of the spiritual depravity in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham and Lot had been in the area for a while and would have had news of the area. Yet in spite of this knowledge Lot still chose the way he did. In fact we find that Lot first pitched his tent near Sodom, and then eventually lived in the city. Maybe he thought he would be immune to the corruption found in the city. Maybe he thought he could ignore it. Instead Lot compromised everything in his life because of his choice.

Lot’s behavior in looking out for number one also,

Caused him to trust in his own ways rather than God’s ways.
It’s interesting to note that Lot didn’t once consult the Lord about his choice. Even after seeing how God directed the life of Abraham, Lot had his own plans and failed to consult God.

After being caught in an international conflict and being miraculously rescued by his uncle Abraham you would think Lot would have got the picture and said to himself – “maybe I made a bad choice in moving here”. No, instead he sold his tents and bought a condo in the city.

When the angels came to the city of Sodom Lot knew who they were. But in spite of that knowledge he still tried to get out of the jam he found himself in when the mob came to the door demanding that he deliver his guests to be sexually molested. Instead of shutting the door in the mobs face and trusting that God would somehow work out a solution, Lot took things into his own hands and diplomatically called the crowd his “friends” and offered them his two daughters instead! What father in their right mind would do such a thing? Yet, “looking out for number one” meant trusting in his own ways rather than God’s ways.

Even when the angels miraculously delivered Lot from the crowd by making them blind and told Lot God’s plan of destruction for the city the scriptures record that he hesitated when it was time to go and the angels had to physically grab Lot, his wife, and two daughters to remove them from the city!

Then, while on route, Lot pleaded with the angels to let him go to the small city of Zoar rather than the mountain that God wanted him to go to. Lot trusted in his own ways rather than God’s ways because he was always looking out for #1.

So here we have the reason for the compromise in Lot’s life. It began with simply “looking out for number one”. Now we can look at what was compromised in Lot’s life because of this.

What Lot compromised…

Relationship with Abraham

One of the things you notice first about the story of Lot is his apparent closeness to his uncle Abram. From the beginning we learn how Lot “went” wherever his uncle went and his uncle’s willingness to have him along. But things seem to change when their possession increased.

The thing that stands out about the character of Abraham at this point in Lot’s life is his willingness to maintain his good relationship with his nephew.

Genesis 13:8-9 (NIV)
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”

Abram had every right to tell Lot where to go. He was the elder, and the one that God made the promise to. Abram risked everything by giving Lot the choice. Why? Because he was not willing to compromise his relationship with Lot. Clearly, Abraham was not looking out for number one!

Contrast this with Lot. He didn’t even think twice. He was willing to compromise his relationship with his uncle in order to take advantage of the apparent bonanza.

The most unsettling thing that happens when we look out for number one is that we compromise our relationship with those who love us most!

Blessings of God

Something that I think Lot forgot in his choice was that the only reason he had the possessions he enjoyed was because he had hung around with Abram and Abram was being blessed by God. In leaving Abram, Lot was walking away from God’s blessings! He was compromising or “placing in jeopardy” God’s blessing.

As you read to the conclusion of Lot’s life you see the impact that decision had on his life.

Peter writes in 2 Peter 2:7-8;

2 Peter 2:7-8 (NIV)
7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)–

Why was Lot so tormented in the city of Sodom? Because he had known what it meant to be in God’s blessing! It is so true that when those who have known the blessings of God compromise that for the passing pleasures of the world – those pleasures become a torment rather than a joy. NOTHING COMPARES WITH THE PRESENCE OF GOD NO MATTER HOW APPEALING!

His family

Probably one of the saddest things that happened as a result of Lot’s decision was the “placing in jeopardy” of his family! Notice what happened as a result of Lot’s compromise.

The very safety of his family was compromised in the midst of the international conflict.

His married daughter’s and son-in-laws refuse to leave with him when he warns of the impending destruction of Sodom (in fact they “laugh” at him”). They had become “accustomed” to the wickedness in the city.

Lot’s wife looks back at Sodom after being warned not to and is turned into a pillar of salt. She looked back with longing at what she was leaving behind and not believing that the city really was going to be destroyed.

Lot’s remaining daughters commit incest with him in a cave on the mountain of refuge at the end of Lot’s story. Having been exposed to the wickedness of the city of Sodom for most of their lives they saw nothing wrong with what they did.

His integrity

Lot also compromised his integrity as a follower of God. His own family laughed at him when he tried to warn them about Sodom.

The mob at Lot’s door mocked him when he tried to resolve things – by offering his own daughters instead!

In “looking out for number one” Lot compromised who he was and what he stood for.

CONCLUSION

So what can we learn from Lot’s story this morning? What is it about this man’s life that should serve as an example of what not to do?

From Lot we learn of the incredible danger inherent in “looking out for number one”.

The decisions reached by Abram and Lot are the same as those which confront every Christian. We must decide whether to trust in the sovereignty of God or in our own schemes and devices. We must determine whether to trust in the ‘uncertainty of riches’ or in the God Who “richly supplies us’ (I Timothy 6:17). We must decide whether to invest in the ‘passing pleasures of sin’ or the future ‘reward’ which is promised by God (Hebrews 11:25-26)

The world’s way of getting ahead is to look out for number one. That was Lot’s way, as well. God’s way to blessing is looking UP TO NUMBER ONE, and looking out for others.

Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Such a life can only be lived by faith. Such a life can only cause our faith in God to grow.

The beginning point for every man, woman, and child is to look to God for salvation. We cannot, we dare not, trust in our own shrewdness to get us entrance into God’s kingdom. Often what we perceive to be ‘paradise’ is soon to be destroyed by divine wrath. Faith recognizes our sinfulness and trusts in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary for eternal security and blessing. Our own best efforts are doomed to destruction. Only what God promises and provides will endure.

As we saw with the life of Lot – even the “righteous” can make mistakes – but we can avoid compromising as Lot did by “denying our self” and embracing the life of Christ.

Although we still may experience the consequence of “bad” decisions in the past – God extends his grace and mercy (salvation) to those who will receive it.

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