A Parting of the Ways,
Abram and Lot are examples of the two kinds of Christians in the Church today. Lot was a righteous man, but a man who lived life based on what he saw and what he could feel and touch. Lot is an excellent example of the undedicated, immature believer. Abram, far from being perfect, yet stands as a fine example of a believer who lived by faith and believed in the Word of God. This kind of believer may fail, may fall into sin, but not like Lot, who could never to a thing to help Abram. As far as we know, Lot never built an altar to the Lord. The undedicated believer can get by without needing to worship God. The well-watered plains hold more interest to the worldly believer than does following the will of God.
1. An impossible relationship, verse 6. Even the Promised Land was unable to sustain such an unequal yoke as the life of faith, Abram, with a life of sight and sense, Lot. The conditions of the land would not allow them to live together. This kind of strife is not uncommon in the heart of a believer; it’s a conflict between the spiritual and the fleshly. As long as this strife goes on, the Land of Promise can produce no blessing (Romans 7). Worldly Christians, like Lot, see no value in the provision of God. And this attitude hurts the genuine believer and results in strife, which blocks those blessings.
This is a stark example to us to check our relationships regularly. Do the people we spend our time with encourage us to seek the higher things of God, or do worldly, ungodly attitudes rub off on us? There is no relationship more important to cultivate and nurture than the one that exists between man and his Savior.
2. The generosity of faith, verses 8 and 9. Abram was a friend of God, and a friend of God can easily allow others the first choice because he understands nothing can deter the will of God. A Christian should never worry if he’ll get the raw end of a deal. Our lives are in the hands of God! And He is a loving God who knows what’s best for us. We can show our trust in God by standing back from the strife of talk and gossip and arguing, and by allowing others to have their say and to occupy the best seats in the house. Believers need to stand up for God, and God will stand up for our rights; because, in reality, all our rights rest in God.
3. The selfishness of the carnal Christian, verses 10—13. Lot looked for the best and he chose it and never said a word of thanks to Abram. He separated himself from the man of faith with no care for him or himself. Worldly believers don’t see much value in God’s blessing, or in the need of consistent Christian fellowship. Who was Lot going to have fellowship with? His mind was set on prosperity, not on the essential, invisible things necessary for the Christian life. So what did Lot gain? He pitched his tent toward Sodom; he built no altar, and was burned out of it himself, saved by fire.
4. The privilege of the separated, verse 14. After the separation came a message of comfort. Note carefully the words of 2 Corinthians 6:17. Greed and covetousness was what lifted Lot’s eyes. Abram’s eyes were lifted at the invitation of the Lord. Here is the big difference between the worldly believer and the faithful one. One is moved by self-interest, the other by the Word of God. “Looking up” is always the attitude of the separated one. Lot goes on leaning on his own understanding. Abram goes on leaning of the promises of God (Galatians 2:20).
5. An altar of testimony, verse 18. Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom; Abram pitched his toward God. The undedicated, self-seeking believer has little if any testimony for God. When he does, it comes off looking like mockery (Genesis 19:14). The just shall live by faith, and they shall live to the will of God (1 Peter 4:1—2).
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