LOT'S LOSSES (PART 1)

TEXT

"And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together." (Genesis chapter 13 verse 5, King James Version).

The Bible says that the end of a thing is better than the beginning thereof (Ecclesiastes chapter 7 verse 8). From the story of Lot, we have so much to glean from and for our benefit.

     Here was a man who was blessed by God by reason of his association with his godly uncle, Abraham. Learn from this:

 God may bring you in contact with men that are heavily graced that your mere association with such men will bring you much blessings and favor. Their grace, in such cases literally rubs off on you. But the greatest mistake you will ever make is to suppose that you can fare without such people. This was the mistake of Lot. He benefited heavily from Abraham's grace and forgot that it was for the sake of his uncle that he fared.

  You can contact grace by simply associating with someone that's graced. Apostle Paul in Philippians chapter 1 verse 7 told the Philippian Church that they were partakers of his grace. Unlike Lot, Laban was quick to recognize and wasn't slack to confess before Jacob that the grace he carried made him rich. Hear him:

"And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake." (Genesis chapter 30 verse 27)

    Another man that was likewise graced was Joseph. As a slave in the house of Potiphar, it wasn't difficult for his master to recognize that he was blessed for Joseph's sake.

"And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake:" (Genesis chapter 39 verse 5)

Learn this:

Whenever you discover that you have fared well in life by reason of your association with someone that's graced by God, you don't separate from them without God's express instructions to that effect. Otherwise, you will be cut off from that grace and things will begin to go downward with you. This is very vital.

   This was Lot's problem. From the Scripture reading for today, Lot had become almost as wealthy as Abraham.

"And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together."

 He thought that the wealth that he had gathered was the result of his own efforts and so, when Abraham requested that they separated in order to avoid strife, he gladly obliged the old man. But eventually, we know that this was his greatest undoing!

    From the moment he separated from Abraham, Lot became independent, so to speak, losing his uncle's spiritual guidance and cover. He was like Joash who did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest, but not after (2nd  Chronicles chapter 24 verse 2).

    The end of Lot was very pathetic. As blessed as he was at the beginning when he was with Abraham, he ended up in a cave, he and his two daughters (Genesis chapter 19 verse 30)

   May this never happen to us in Jesus name.

PRAYER:

Lord, as you bring me in contact with men of grace, may you help me not to flow out of favor, in Jesus name.