Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

Character Study of Lota character study by Jeff S. SmithIntroductionThe rescue of Lot from the wickedness and ultimate destruction of Sodom is used by the apostle Peter toexemplify the eternal ability of Almighty God to deliver his people out of trial and bring consequencesdown upon the evil.[Read Second Peter 2:4-11.]This morning, we are going to travel back to the book of Genesis to read the account of Lot's sojourn inSodom. As pilgrims in a sinful world, we are often placed into Lot's position and our own deliverance isdependent upon whether or not we follow the escape route carved out by Jesus.DiscussionI. In Sodom and GomorrahA. When Greed Rules Our Reasoning1. Lot and his uncle Abraham were both very wealthy vagabonds as they dwelt in tents andtraveled about on their journey; eventually their servants were torn with strife over grazing lands for allthe animals (Genesis 13:8-132. I doubt Lot could have known what he was getting himself into, but perhaps that only proves adifferent, equally instructive, pointa. sometimes men enter into spiritually tempting places or situations with full knowledge andsometimes they get there ignorantly, but due to other carnal decisionsb. whether the first route or the second is taken becomes academic, for he is there either wayand now must deal with it3. Abraham nobly gave up the right of first refusal to his nephew, who probably should haveinsisted that his uncle choose, but Lot made his apparently self-serving judgment based upon appearancesand began quickly to discover how deceiving they can bea. truly there are wicked people everywhere, but those in Sodom had taken sin to a newdepth; they reveled in it shamelessly and celebrated every innovationb. but their vileness was concealed to Lot by their prosperity, at least long enough to chooseand get settled among themc. but remember, it was selfishness that put Lot in Sodom to begin with--a separate but carnaldecision had the same effect as if he had purposely chosen to dwell amidst widespread sin4. covetousness is an epidemic sin, but one difficult to diagnose because we have come up withso many sanitized euphemisms for it (e.g. getting ahead, looking out for number one, doing it for myfamily, etc.)a. greed is permitted under the guise of one of these euphemisms and although we neverintended to end up in psychotherapy, marriage counseling, bankruptcy, the bed of fornication or cut offfrom our children, we dob. and then we establish our foolishness by claiming that we have no idea how all thishappened or why we are herec. greed is the seemingly harmless impulse that will land us in a thousand places we neverintended to go (Proverbs 23:4-5)d. the New Testament says that greedy people cannot serve as elders (Titus 1:7) and shouldactually be withdrawn from (First Corinthians 5:11)e. now you may never be disfellowshipped by the church over greediness, but God will notfail to act; your fellowship with him may be disturbed even if all seems well here on EarthB. Mixed Up In Someone Else's Battle1. it was not long before Lot's decision began to haunt him; the kings of Sodom and Gomorrahrebelled against the emperor who ruled them and Lot was drawn into a conflict that he surely neveranticipated (Genesis 14:11-16)2. making daily choices and life-altering decisions according to the chief consideration of carnaleffect will invariably lead to spiritual ruin, to emotional captivitya. riches and possessions seem so liberating, but in fact, they are enslavingb. he who lives for gain will never gain enough to satisfy (Ecclesiastes 5:10-11193