River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-10


story of xnan 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-
ciated 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 comedy may
suffer by comparison with one that is
beautiful. So the character of Lot suf-
fers 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. He and Abraham had
grown to such wealth in flocks that
they could no longer dwell together.
So Abraham took him upon a high
eminence and told him to choose any
locality where he wished to dwell.
And here 1t Is that Lots character Is
brought out In It's true colors. He
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 journeyed east; and
they separated themselves one from
the other. Abraham dwelled In the
land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in
the cities of the plain and pitched his
tent toward Sodom."
He chose the well-watered plain In
the valley of the Jordan because it
was rich and like Egypt. He had
never forgotten Egypt, with its great
cities and wealth, out of his heart. He
saw that in the plain were cities, cen
ters of commerce, where men were
making money fast. The only con-
sideration that entered his mind was
his own personal advantage.
You notice that it said that Lot
pitched his tent toward Sodom Why
not within Sodom?" Because he knew
perfectly we'll 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
about going into the city, but he
would get near 1t for the material ad-
vantage it 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 administrators
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 live in? He was living among peo-
pie 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.
l do not think Lot had gotten very
much out of his success. Abraham
pitched his tent yonder in the hills.
and lit his altar fire, and worshiped
God; and he got great deal more
peace and happiness than Lot.
But what had Lots wealth and sue
cess done for his children? Would not
they be we'll 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 1t. 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 lied the city, only his wife and
two daughters accompanied him.
Let me point out just one lesson OF
| thia 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
ycur wealth and power will never &C.
cornplish any good purpose. 1t is
| right TO desire success, but IL you
leave God out of the question 1t will
end in failure.
So when you are Planning your own
HE or choosing the life-work OF
your children, your first consideration
should be whether you and they can
serve God in the calling which you
have chosen, and remember that
goodness is profitable for the life
that now is, and for that which is to