Poor Choices and Spiritual Blindness
Genesis 13:10-11, "And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other."
Lot was the nephew of Abram. Abram became like a father to Lot, because Lot's father, Haran, had died. Now because of the greatness of their substance (wealth) it became impossible for them to dwell together in the same location. So Abram offers Lot the opportunity to chose where he wants to go. Rather than being considerate of others, Lot considers only himself and that which pertains to him (pretty selfish wouldn't you say). Lot looks with his eyes, rather than with his heart surrendered to God, and makes a decision that would lead to his demise. The Bible warns about how we are tempted in 1 John 2:16, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." BEING LED AND MAKING CHOICES SHOULD BE DONE THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOT THROUGH THE LUST OF THE FLESH, OR EYES, OR THE PRIDE OF LIFE.
1. God warns about the lust of the flesh. The lust of the flesh could be described as those temptable areas of life that dwell inside our old Adamic nature. Gill calls this "the lust of the body." Barnes describes it as that which "pampers the appetites, or all that is connected with the indulgence of our mere animal propensities."
2. God warns about the lust of the eyes. These are temptations brought to us through the eye gate. Many things become sources of temptation to us through our eyes. It is through our eyes that we primarily process the world in which we live. Lot in our passage looked and it was through this avenue alone that he made the decision to go in a direction that would bring great harm to him and his family. Don't make this mistake!
3. God warns about the pride of life. The lure to live with the ambition to seek and experience power, honor, chief positions and high titles. Most people live with the intent of promoting self whenever possible.
4. God concludes that none of these are from Himself, but are of this world. Our decisions and choices need to be spiritually led by the Word of God and the precious Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
Have you made any decisions based upon the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life recently? When you neglect prayerful and biblical decision making you do things that you shouldn't, which leads to your own hurt and demise.
Don't be like Lot who "lifted up his eyes" and made a poor decision. Be prayerful, and spiritually aware of the choices you make.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1. How do you normally make decisions?
2. Can you remember times when you made poor decisions? What were the consequences?
3. The only way to overcome fleshly choices is to lean on God's Word and the Holy Spirit. Will you determine in your heart to make better choices utilizing the help of the Word of God and His Spirit?
Your Friend and His,
Pastor Abbott