The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-08-10


for that righteous man dwelling amons
them vexed Ills righteous soul day &C
day with their unlawful deeds.-2 Peter
g:7.
These words bring before us the
story of a man who was anxious TO be
rich. Let us recall the story and see
what his overpowering desires for
riches led him into. Lot was asso
cisted with Abraham from the first
move from Ur OF the Chaldees. With
Abraham he tarried at Haran. and
went down into Egypt. and returned
from Egypt But to be perfectly fair,
Lot should be considered apart from
Abraham A face that is comely may
suffer by comparison with one that IL
beautiful. so the character OF Lot SUI
iers by comparison with Abraham
and we Will take him by himself That
he was just man we have on the au.
thority OF the New Testament
Crises do not make character. they
only reveal IT, A crisis came in the
affairs Of Lot. lie and Abraham had
grown TO such wealth in flocks that
they could no longer dwell together,
So Abraham took him upon high
eminence and told him to choose any
locality where he wished to cweil
And here II Is that Lots character 10
brought out In its true colors. lie
thinks he has the chance of his life
No consideration OF Abraham enters
his mind. lie 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 dwelled In the
land OF Canaan. and Lot dwelled 10
the cities Of the plain. and pitched his
tent toward Sodom."
He chose the well-watered plain in
the valley of the Jordan because II
was rich and like Egypt. lie had
never forgotten Egypt. with its great
cities and wealth. out of his heart. He
saw that I'm the plain were cities. cen
tiers of commerce, where men were
making money fast. The only con-
sideration that entered his mind was
his own personal advantage
You notice that 1t said that Lot
pitched his tent toward Sodom. Why
not within Sodom?" Because he knew
perfectly well that Sodom was a wick.
ed city. that the people of that city
dishonored the God whom he wished
to serve. So he did not feel right
al FANn NaeA he rte hut
would get near 1t for the material ad.
vantage II would mean TO him.
But let us see what happened. In
the fourteenth chapter OF Genesis we
read that Lot is living In the city. and
he has become an important man.
Lot sat In the gate" He had become
chief magistrate. an administrator
OF Justice. and one who extended the
hospitality OF the city to strangers.
What a wonderful case or success.
Was he not right that day he made
his choice? Try him by the business
standards OF today. Look at Abraham.
He is still pitching his tents up and
down the hills and valleys. and that
is all he has amounted to.
But let us not be hasty in our eulo-
gy. Let us get all the facts. Lot had
become wealthy. and he had position.
but what had 1t all done for him? A
ray of light is thrown on the story
by our New Testament We learn
that Lot "vexed his righteous soul
from day to day" Is that a condition
To HVn In Ia Hxyfn
Pile who did not observe common de
cency. But you know. all his property
was there. and he could not get away.
When men were saying. How well
Lot is getting along" he never had
an hours peace.
But what had Lots wealth and sue
cess done for his children? Would not
they be well brought up and we'll pro
vided for? You know the awful story
OF corruption and sin that came out OF
that life. One evening two angels
came and warned Lot of the doom
that was coming upon the city:
"And the men said unto Lot. Hast
thou here any besides? Sons-in.law,
and thy sons. and thy daughters. and
whatsoever thou hast In the city.
bring them out OF this place: for We
will destroy this place, because the
cry of them is waxen great before the
face OF the Lord; and the Lord hath
sent us TO destroy II. And Lot went
out. and spake unto his sons-in-law,
which married his daughters. and
said. up. get you out OF this place;
for the Lord will destroy this city.
But he seemed as one that Knocked
unto his sons-in.law."
That shows the influence he had
over his family. Next morning when
he fed the city, only his wife and
two daughters accompanied him.
Let me point out Just one lesson OF
this story. There Is success that ends
In failure Man can do a great deal
without God. You may acquire wealth
and position without God. and men
may fiatter you. But after all. what
good is it? There will be no peace
of mind. no abiding happiness. and
your wealth and power will never &C
complish any good purpose. II is
right to desire success, but II you
leave God out of the question It will
end in failure.