Lot was the nephew of Abraham, the father of faith. He had a privileged position in God’s plan, but he made some poor choices that cost him dearly. He settled in Sodom, a wicked city that was doomed for destruction. He lost his wife, his sons-in-law, and his reputation. He fathered two nations that became enemies of Israel. He missed out on God’s best for his life.
What can we learn from Lot’s mistakes? How can we avoid the pitfalls that he fell into? Here are three lessons that we can apply to our lives today.
1. Don’t follow your eyes, follow God’s guidance.
Lot’s first mistake was to choose the land that looked good to his eyes, without consulting God. He saw that the plain of Jordan was well watered and fertile, and he moved his tents toward Sodom (Genesis 13:10-11). He did not consider the spiritual condition of the people who lived there, or the consequences of being influenced by them. He was attracted by the material benefits, but he ignored the moral dangers.
We should not make decisions based on what we see, but on what God says. We should seek His will and direction for our lives, and not be swayed by the allure of the world. We should not compromise our faith or values for the sake of earthly gain. We should remember that God knows what is best for us, and He will provide for our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).
2. Don’t linger in sin, flee from it.
Lot’s second mistake was to linger in Sodom, even after he knew that God was going to destroy it. He had become attached to the city and its people, and he hesitated to leave. He had to be dragged out by the angels, and his wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:15-26). He did not realize how much sin had corrupted his heart and mind, and how much he needed God’s grace and mercy.
We should not linger in sin, but flee from it. We should not get comfortable with the ways of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). We should not love the world or the things in the world, but love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (1 John 2:15-17, Mark 12:30). We should not look back to our old life, but look forward to our new life in Christ (Luke 9:62, Philippians 3:13-14).
3. Don’t trust in yourself, trust in God.
Lot’s third mistake was to trust in his own wisdom, instead of God’s. He thought he could find a better place to live than the one that God had appointed for him. He chose to go to Zoar, a small city that he thought would be spared from the judgment. He did not obey God’s command to flee to the mountains, but followed his own plan (Genesis 19:17-22). He ended up living in a cave, afraid and isolated, and fell into a shameful sin with his daughters (Genesis 19:30-38).
We should not trust in ourselves, but trust in God. We should not lean on our own understanding, but acknowledge Him in all our ways (Proverbs 3:5-6). We should not rely on our own strength, but on His power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20). We should not follow our own desires, but submit to His will for our lives (James 4:7-8). We should not live for ourselves, but for Him who died and rose again for us (2 Corinthians 5:15).
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