Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1911-08-10

81
These words bring before US the
story Of a man who was anxious 10 be
rich Let Us recall the story and see
what his Oyerpovering desires for
riches led him into Lot was asso-
eiated with Abraham from the first
move from Ur OF the Chaidees. With
Abraham he tarried at Haran. and
went down into Egypt, and returned
from Egypt But 10 be perfectly fair.
Lot should be considered apart from
Abraham A face that Is comeiy may
suffer BY comparison with one that is
beautiful SO the character OF Lot SUIT
fers by comparison with Abraham.
and We will take him by himself. That
be was Just man we have on the au-
thority Of the New Testament
Crises do not make character. they
only reveal T. A crisis came In the
Affairs OF Lot He and Abraham had
grown TO such wealth in hocks that
they could no longer dwell together.
So Abraham took him upon a high
emiuence and told him 10 choose any
locality where he wished 10 dwell
And here It is that Lots character Is
brought out in its true colors. lie
thinks he has the chance OF his life.
No consideration OF Abraham enters
his mind. He gets where he can look
over the land. and then he chooses
What did he choose?
Then Lot chose him all the plain
Of Jordan and Lot iOurneyed east: and
they separated themselves one from
the other. Abraham dwelIed In the
land Of Canaan. and Lot dveIIed ia
the cities Of the plain. and pitched his
tent toward Sodom."
He chose the we'll vatered plain in
the valley OF the Jordan because 1t
was rich and Ike Egypt He had
never forgotten Egypt. With its great
cities and wealth. out OF his heart tie
saw that IN the plain were cities. cen
tiers OF commerce. where men were
making money fast The only con
siferation that entered his mind vas
his own personal advantage
You notice that It said that Lot
pitched his tent toward Sotom- Why
not within Sotoa-- Because he knew
perfectly well that SOdom vas a wick
ed city. that the people OF that city
the God whom be wished
to serve So he did lot feel right
about going into the city. but %
would get near IL for the material ad-
vantage Il would mean 10 him
But let - see what happened In
the fourteenth chapter Of Genesis We
read that Lot IS living in the city. and
he has become Al important man
Lot sat IN the gate He had become
4 chief magistrate. an administrator
Of Justice. and one Who extended the
hospitality o. the city 70 strangers.
What a wonderful case or success.
Was be not right that day he made
his choiees Try him By the business
standards Of today Look AZ Abraham.
He Is stu pitching bis tents ID art
down the hills and valleys. and that
Is all he has amounted 10.
Bot let Is not be hasty In our eulo-
IT Let Is get al the facts Lot had
become wealthy. and be had position.
bot what bad L al done for hiaf A
-ay OF light Is thrown OF the story
BY our New Testament We learn
that Lot -Texst bis righteous soul
from day % day Is that a condition
70 1--we in He was living among PEG
pie who did not observe common de
,ency. Blr you know. all bis property
<as there. and he could rot &c, axay.
When men we're saying. How well
Lot Is getting along be never had
IN hours peace
do not think Lot had gotten very
zueh out Of his success. Abraham
pitched his tent yonder In the hills.
md Ii his altar FIRE. and worxhiped
God: and he got a great deal more
lace and happiness than Lot.
But what had Lots wealth and sue
Tess done for his children7 Would not
hey be well brought Up and well pro
Ficed fore You know the awful story
II corruption and sin that came out OF
hat life One evening two angels
,ame and warned Lot Of the doom
hat was coming upon the city:
And the men said unto Lot. Hast
.hou here any besidess Sonsin-Isw.
and thy sons. and thy daughters. and
thou hast IN the city.
bring them out OF this place: for We
xiu destroy this place. because the
ny Of them is waxen great before the
lace OF the Lord; and the Lord hath
sent Us 10 destroy It And Lot went
7ut, and spake unto his sons-in-Iaw,
which married his daughters, and
said. Up. get you out Of this place:
Tor the Lord will destroy this city.
But he seemed as one that rocked
INTO his sons-in-laE.
That shows the influence he had
over his family Next morning when
be fed the city. only his wife and
two daughters accompanied him
Let ne point out Just one lesson Of
this story. There IS success that ends
N failure Man can do a great deal
without God You may acquire wealth
and position without God. and men
nay fatter you But after all. what
good is II? There viii be no peace
Of mind. no abiding happiness. and
your wealth and power will never ae-
eomplish any good purpose. Il is
right TO desire success. but II you
leave Gcd out Of the question IL viii
end IN failure
so when you are Planning your own
life. or choosing the Iife-xork Of
your children. your first consideration
should be whether you and they can
serve God in the calling when you
have chosen. and remember that
godliness IS profitable for the ltre
that now Ia an6 fn- .har 49,