Evening star., 1932-04-23
Sunday School Lesson
Py
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

over water rights to influence their
relations with one another. Love OF
money has played prominent part n
more than one war, so that they &c
frequently closely connected. VII !
Abram spoke to Lot. he was thinking
not of gold but OF God. therefore, he
suggested that the land was before him
and that Lot could t9ke any section
ne wished and he would go in another
direction.
Although he was older and the land
had been promised to him. Abram never
raised the question of his rights. He
did not refer to the fact that Lot
owed his riches to his friendship with
his uncle. He gave the younger man
his choice. When Lots eyes opened,
the view he beheld was one Of the
most Wonderful in all Palestine. He
saw the Jordan Valley, made by the
mighty river as it descended rapidly
from the Sea Oh Galilee. He could
see streams flow into the Jordan and
the evidence of fertility wherever the
river rushed on toward the Dead Sea.
There was ample water for his herds
and plenty Of pasture for his focks.
The cities of the plains meant mar
ket for his cattle. Moved by selfish
ness, forgetting that he should nave
placed God first. Lot selected the VAL
ley OF the Jordan.
Profit and Loss.
When Lot separated from Abram he
did not consider what it would mean 10
him 10 be away from his influence ana
inSpi1 alton. He never thought OF the
influence upon his own spiritual NE.
He was considering the opportunity that
was presented to accumulate riches and
provide for his family Magnanimity
was not contagious. The sordid Seltlsh-
ness of Lot was doomed to reap not the
profit anticipated but complete loss,
The one who seeks first the Kingdom OF
God and His righteousness is the one
to whom God gives the promise OF
blessing. Lot moved toward Sodom,
not intending to allow its iniqulty, I'M
morality and intemperance to influence
him. After a season we find him
citizen in Sodom The power OF SIN TO
draw one within its control is tremen-
dous. Once Abram saved Lot from the
hands Of the heather kings, whom he
mastered by his strategy. When Sodom
was destroyed Lot was saved through
the prayers of his uncle. He lost his
wife, but he escaped with his two
daughters. He had left God and lost
all his wealth and possessions, except
the clothing that they wore. That is
the peril We face in gaining wealth to-
day, when We forget Gcd.
When Lot left. Abram turned to the
rocky hills with his flocks. He was
lonely and disappointed. Evidently he
had no hopes for a son and had looked
upon Lot as his successor and heir. 1t
was at this hour that God drew near
His friend He called upon Abram to
view the land in all directions, and
promised to give 1t to His friend and his
seed forever. The history of the Holy
Land is closely related to that of Israel
In recent years we have seen a literal
fulhllment of Jehovah's promises to
Abram in the land that has been the
birthplace Of the worlds three greatest
faiths coming back into the possession
of His chosen people. The peace. pros
earth are closely related to the chosen
people, whose seed has become numer-
Gus and great among the nations
One cannot help but feel, as he looks
over the records Of the past, and turns
his face toward the future, that in all
probability, our God has preserved the
descendants of Abram, as a peculiar
people among the nations of the earth
They are to bring blessings to human
ity, for every promise that Jehovah has
made concerning them will be fulfilled.
Some of these we have recently seen
fulfilled and others are about to be-
come a reality. because Jehovah has not
forgotten His word. Abram sought
first the things Of God, and has had
given unto him the foremost place
among men. If we put all our wealth
at His service, He will honor us. No
one who seeks first the kingdom OF
God and His Righteousness fails to re-
ceive a reward. There is that scat
tereth and yet increaseth, and there Is
that withholdest more than his meet,
but 1t tendeth to poverty"