Opening illustration: The teenager expressed the view of many. Speaking of the wild parties he attended, the 16-year-old declared, “Without these parties, my life wouldn’t have any purpose.” Attitudes like this result from a string of bad choices that multiply until life loses its meaning. Examples of this “bad-choice string” can be seen all around us.
Take the couple whose first bad choice is to be sexually active without being married. They soon follow that practice with other poor decisions that lead to spiritual, economic, and social problems. Or consider the business person who takes money from petty cash to line his pockets, only to follow that bad choice with many others just to cover it up.
Let us turn to Genesis 13 and check how two men made completely different choices in life and what consequences followed them …
Introduction: Abraham had a nephew by the name of Lot. The two of them reached a place where each of them had to make a choice, but it didn’t matter that much to Abraham! Why? He had obeyed. A sense of destiny was upon him, which is what kept him going. He knew that everything was not to be understood in terms of material things. Sadly, do you know what it says about Lot? He made a bad choice.
Sometimes there is something you can do about this matter of living conditions. Your living conditions may be what they are because of a bad choice. As to how you know whether you should be doing something about changing your living conditions instead of just putting up with them, the answer is twofold. First, has God unmistakably put you where you are? If so, you should stay there for the time being. He has a purpose in it for you. Second, if your being where you are is because of a hasty decision - and you have had no peace since - I would suggest God has a better plan for you. Pray that God will move you without you "jumping out of the frying pan into the fire."
Could it be that God brought you to this place of crisis at this moment? Things can change. You may be living with the consequences of a bad choice, but it is a new day, and I would not write like this if there were no hope. Your life may not have to stay as it is. Something can happen in your heart before God, and you can say, "I am sorry!" and know that God loves you as much as He loved Lot and Abraham.
(A) How to make poor choices?
1. Desire of the eyes (v. 10a)
"The desire of the eyes" is the desire for anything beautiful or attractive that can be exalted in place of God. It may be as neutral an object as a tree (Genesis 3: 6).
Information and data comes into our minds by way of the eyes and what one allows in by the eyes may become sin to him. Consider the example of Lot who looked to the plain of Jordan and lusted after it. He knew of the city of Sodom was there as well and just pitched his tent "toward Sodom" where he could see it. But then, a few verses later, he is living in Sodom with his family and he is sitting at the gate, which means that he had become a sort of town "justice of the peace" or judge for the city so that he would judge matters as a city official. What came into the eyes trapped him and then condemned his family. His sons ignored his plea to come with him as the city was to be destroyed. He lingered, and the angels had to take them by the hand and set them outside. They warned them not to look back but Lots wife could not resist giving in to the lust of the eyes and she looked back and became a pillar of salt.
The main types of sin have not changed since sin invaded the garden. Lust of the eyes was there in Eden with our first two parents. “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate ...” (Genesis 3: 6) There was the fruit hanging on the tree... and a thought given by Satan. A promise of some glory that they didn’t experience in the life given them by God. They saw, they lusted, they sinned. No, sin doesn’t change, but times sure have.
The writer of Proverbs tells us "he who hates covetousness will prolong his days" (Proverbs 28: 16). Jesus admonishes us to "take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Luke 12: 15). The parable of the rich fool shows how dangerous a covetous attitude can be (Luke 12: 16-20).
Covenant with my eyes? Why?
2. Using comparative worldly wisdom (v. 10b)
Those matured in Christian experience and knowledge alone can understand the true superiority of the Christian wisdom which Paul preached. Distinguished not only from worldly and natural men, but also from babes, who though "in Christ" retain much that is "carnal" (1 Corinthians 3: 1, 2), and cannot therefore understand the deeper truths of Christianity (1 Corinthians 14: 20; Philippians 3: 15; Hebrews 5: 14). Paul does not mean by the "mystery" or "hidden wisdom" (1 Corinthians 2: 7) some hidden tradition distinct from the Gospel (like the Church of Rome’s disciplina arcani and doctrine of reserve), but the unfolding of the treasures of knowledge, once hidden in God’s counsels, but now announced to all, which would be intelligently comprehended in proportion as the hearer’s inner life became perfectly transformed into the image of Christ. Compare instances of such "mysteries," that is, deeper Christian truths, not preached at Paul’s first coming to Corinth, when he confined himself to the fundamental elements (1 Corinthians 2: 2), but now spoken to the "perfect" (1 Corinthians 15: 51; Romans 11: 25; Ephesians 3: 5, 6).
Lot looked and his eyes connected with the lust of the flesh which prompted and assisted him to compare where the grass is greener and where in the physical realm he has better prospects of prosperity. Therefore he decided to stay in the plains of Jordan (in Sodom and Gomorrah). How many of us here decide and discern things for our lives on the basis of worldly comparative wisdom? Why don’t we seek God’s leading and our obedience in every matter of our life?
3. Lust of the flesh (v. 11)
"The lust of the flesh" is the desire which the flesh produces. It may be for an object which is neutral in itself, such as food (Matthew 4:3). But when food becomes more important than the will of God, it has become an idol. Eve looked and not only desired the fruit but it says that she desired to eat it. The desire of the eyes culminates with the lust of the flesh taking action for it.
Most of the time the word "lust" is used in a negative sense in New Testament passages like these: "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" (Romans 13: 14). "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5: 16). "For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error" (2 Peter 2: 18).
Most Believers learn the hard way that their flesh is fighting mad and is out to destroy their life. The average Christian doesn’t understand that their flesh will never seek to do the will of God! Galatians 5: 17 tells us, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” And I Corinthians 15: 33 exhorts us to tame our flesh.
Reflections: In Genesis 13 we read about the bad decisions Lot made when he and Abram decided to part ways. Given the pick of the land, Lot chose the best ground for himself, and then settled near a city known for its wickedness. Genesis 20 records the tragic result of one bad choice that led to others. Learn from Lot’s mistake. If you have made a decision that violates God’s principles, don’t let one mistake turn into a string of bad choices. Stop right now and ask the Lord’s forgiveness and help. (e.g. Samson, Saul, Esau …)
(B) How to make good choices?
1. Look through Godly Eyes (v. 14, 15)
God looks at choices differently. Because God is eternal, he sees the past, present and the future all at the same time. God sees the end from the beginning. Above all He looks at things from the eternal perspective. Many times the Godly choices we make may not look like the good and right one in the worldly sense and may even seem like dwindling and a poor choice on the surface but for the longer and eternal aspect that is the best choice. What may look good to the world is not always the best choice in God’s eyes and for your walk with God leading to eternity.
How would your actions and feelings change if you knew how something would end? Life looks very different when you look at it through God’s eyes. The Bible says that God has plans for us. In Jeremiah 29: 11, it says: For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." God’s plans for us are good. (Not necessarily that it is good in the eyes of the world) They are better than anything we could possibly think of ourselves. God is the one that gives us the power to be successful and the desire to do better.
So no matter what we are going through, we need to remember that God knows all about it and already sees how it will end. If His plans for us are good and we trust Him, we can look at our lives differently.
2. Be Obedient to Godly Instruction (v. 17)
Abram did not really have to make a choice because He was already obedient to God’s call and was just walking that road relying on God’s leading and guidance. Obedience to God is pleasing to him. Even if your accomplishments do not meet the world’s standards, you are successful in God’s "eyes” and His opinion lasts forever. Abram chose to obey God and walk righteously before Him. He saw God make straight every crooked path that came on the way.
Obedience to God is very important in your Christian growth. No one in this life will ever become sufficiently sanctified to the point where they are always obeying the law, but we can honor and maintain obedience to God by pondering on, or meditating on, the words of Jesus. The term "to ponder" means to weigh in the mind, to think or reflect, especially quietly and deeply. To ponder on something is like meditation which implies a definite focusing of one’s thoughts on something in order to understand it deeply. The author of Proverbs 14: 15 makes a good point: "A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps."
You ask, "How important is obedience to God?" In the gospel of John, obedience to God is underscored time and time again. John 14: 15 exhorts, "If you love me, you will obey what I command." We see this in Abram through His intimate relationship with God and daily walk.
3. Separation from an Ungodly environment (v. 12-13, 18)
"Worldliness" was a constant problem for the people of Israel. Though God taught His people to be separate from other people (Leviticus 20: 26), when they consorted with the pagans, God sent prophets to condemn them for their evil associations (Isaiah 30: 1-17). Since Israel was called to be God’s "peculiar treasure" and His "holy nation" (Exodus 19: 5-6), the people were to reflect that holy calling in their lives (Deuteronomy 7: 1-11). God sent judgment upon Israel when they apostatized from the Word of God and worshipped the gods of the heathen so that they became like the heathen (2 Kings 17: 6-8)), followed their practices, and even intermarried with them (Judges 3: 5-8). In contrast to this pagan association and lifestyle, Psalm 1: 1 promises blessing to those who do not associate with the wicked, and Proverbs has much to say about avoiding evil men (for example, 4: 14-19).
Abram had to separate himself from the world so that the influences of the world would not take a drastic toll on his relationship with God and he would not be tempted or compelled to make wrong choices in his life. He had to make a choice and abide by it. The text tell us that he left all the sinful inhabited areas and moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD. Abram did the right thing.
Separation from the world is, therefore, first recognition of the completely evil character of the world and a decision not to desire or to expect approval or fair treatment from it. Second, it is an avoidance of all actions which might fall in the category of worldliness as defined above. Sources of contamination from the world today include ungodly television, music, movies, and fashions. A main source of contamination often warned against in Scripture is worldly friends (I Corinthians 15: 33). The Christian should disassociate himself from the sins of the world, its idols, and all its unbiblical ambitions and schemes.
God’s command to separate from the world, however, does not mean that the Christian should isolate himself from society. Christians are to be the "salt of the earth" (Matthew 5: 13). They are responsible to evangelize the world (Acts 1: 8); therefore, separation from the world by no means should discourage earnest efforts to win the world to Christ. God Himself desires the salvation of the world (John 3: 16).
Illustration: It seems there are two kinds of people in this world: those who have an eternal perspective and those who are preoccupied with the present.
One is absorbed with the permanent; the other with the passing. One stores up treasure in heaven; the other accumulates it here on earth. One stays with a challenging marriage because this isn’t all there is; another looks for happiness in another mate, believing this life is all there is. One is willing to suffer poverty, hunger, indignity, and shame because of “the glory which shall be revealed” (Romans 8: 18); another believes that happiness is being rich and famous. It’s all a matter of perspective.
Abraham had an “other world” perspective. That’s what enabled him to give up a piece of well-watered land by the Jordan (Genesis 13). He knew that God had something better for him later on. The Lord told him to look in every direction as far as he could see and then said that his family would someday have it all. What a land grant! And God promised that his descendants would be as numerous “as the dust” (v.16).
That’s an outlook many people can’t understand. They go for all the gusto right now. But God’s people have another point of view. They know that God has something better later on!
Application: Result or Consequences for good choices - Blessings! (v. 16)
Most of the time what seems a good choice in the sight of the world is not necessarily the right and good choice in the sight of God. Things might seem very good on the surface but for the end result and eternity sake they just don’t level up. And what is likely the good choice in God’s sight is not necessarily a good one for worldly standards. Well you all are smart enough to decide who is right, the world majority or God the minority.
The end result for Lot was not good at all but for Abram, God blessed him mightily and even till today his generations are continued to be blessed.
Apparently the best choice is to obediently live in the will of God.
