Lot – Part 2
We saw last time The Problem of Covetousness in Lot’s life based on Genesis 13:5-11. Now let’s look at what Covetousness does to a person!
II. THE PROBLEM WITH COMPROMISE
When you are covetous you will compromise! I find several things that happen when you compromise: –
A. He Lost His Convictions
Genesis 19:1-2 – 1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
The angels visited with Lot and they announced to him that they were sent by God to destroy Sodom. Now he just wanted them to spend the night and then leave. He tried to get rid of them! He did not want to accept God’s judgment on a place that he loved. He loved Sodom. He had actually become a city councilman – alderman in the city.
19:1 – LOT SAT AT THE GATE
This means one who rules as a judge. He had been appointed as a judge – a ruling official of that city. You would not have been appointed in that city if you held on to Godly convictions. Because this city was made up of ungodly people – and yet he was an alderman!
Notice what he says to them:
Genesis 19:3 – And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
He did not want them to stay on the streets. Why? Because he knew the Sodomites would approach them. Now these angels must have had the appearance of men – notice what happens in:
Genesis 19:4-5 – 4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
You know what Lot said? He said something here that ought to disturb us. He said to these men – angles – “Listen, you don’t want to spend the night outside. If you are looking for sex, you can have my daughters.”
Genesis 19:8 – Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
Do whatever you want to do with them! We are talking about a saved man yet he is acting with no convictions! Why do we say he had not convictions? He was willing to give up his own children!
You need to get some deep settled convictions in your life. I am talking about moral convictions. Parents need to have some Biblical Convictions and lead their children. We need to teach our children some do’s and don’ts, because if we do not teach them the world will teach them.
When your child was growing up, did you tell them don’t touch a hot stove because it will burn them? Why is it when they are small we will teach them that there is some convictions and restrictions. You need some standards!
We make 2 major mistakes as parents:
- No Discipline
The Bible records concerning Eli – a priest of God in I Samuel 14-18. His 2 sons were priests, but they were ungodly. God judged his sons. The Bible says God judged Eli. He said, “Eli I am disciplining your children because you did not teach them right from wrong. And Eli you did not discipline them when they did do wrong.”
It is our obligation to teach them right and wrong. I would say to you the older they get you have to give them some freedoms, but you don’t give them so much freedom that they abuse it!
Listen – Maturity not age determines Privileges!
It is possible to have a 16 year old that acts life a 4 year old! It is also possible to have a 16 year old that acts like a 20 year old. I heard about a man describing his teenage son, he said, “He is 13 but he really is 2 with 11 years of experience!”
We not only do not discipline or tell them right and wrong but also:
*We don’t live the life before them
I appreciate people seeing me and calling me a man of God. But what really matters is that my family knows that I am a man of God. They live with me and if they don’t see Jesus in me then it does not matter what I claim to be.
Lot said, “You can have my kids!” Make up your mind today that the devil is not going to have your children!
B. He Lost His Children
Genesis 19:14 – And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
They mocked him! They made fun of him. They said, “Daddy you have lost your mind. Where did this God thing come from?” His kids mocked him and made fun of him. Three of his children died in Sodom and the two others left but he forced them to leave.
C. He Lost His Courage
Genesis 19:16 – And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
His two daughters – he forced them to get out.
Notice he LINGERED. It means he lost his courage. We need courage today. Joseph left his coat and he ran. He did suffer but God knew what happened and he was not held accountable for it. Remember the Three Hebrew children – they would not bow – they did not burn. Remember Daniel who refused to drink the king’s wine nor eat the king’s meat.
There are some things that are hands off! There are some things you just do not do. We need people of courage!
D. He Lost His Companion
Genesis 19:26 – But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Other than God – I love my wife more than my children. Hey those kids left me. She ever leaves me I am going with her! If you have a wife – you love her and protect her and provide for her and go through trails together and go through tribulations together that draw you closer. I don’t want to lose my wife. But if I compromise I will lose my wife. She is so precious to me. I don’t want to lose my children or grandchildren!
Three things I believe that can help you keep your wife and kids:
1. Intimacy in your Prayer Life
2. Integrity in your Private Life
3. Intensified in your Public Life
You stand on Biblical Convictions. Whatever your kids see you do they will do it in excess! What are you teaching them?
There are three things that happened when Lot compromised:
1. Destroyed His Faith
We find this in Genesis 19:27-30. Lot destroyed his faith. He did not lose his salvation, but he destroyed his faith. You will find in these verses Lot did not really want to leave. The reason I say that Lot did not want to leave when God told him to leave and Lot did not want to live where God told him to live – we find him in a cave! His faith was destroyed!
2. Defiled His Family
Look at Genesis 19:31-38. They got him in the cave and said we are going to bed with Daddy! You talk about a family deviled! To me that is the lowest you can get when there is incest in the home.
3. Devastated His Future
You know what happened to Lot? He had 2 daughters – one became the Moabites, the other the Ammonites. In Numbers 25, the Moabites led the children of Israel into sin. If you study the Ammonites – in Judges 10:10-11 – the Ammonites were the enemies of God that fought against the children of Israel in war.
You are either raising a generation of kids to love God or a generation of kids that are anti-god. Which side do you want to be on? That is why it is so important for Christians to have children. We need to be bringing up a Godly generation. We need kids to be salt and light in this world. The Psalmist described them as Sharpened Arrows.
I challenge you: Be real, live a Holy Life, let them see you pray, let them see you forgive, Have Godly Convictions!
Your family is important!
Pastor Tom Tucker
Galatians 2:20