Unfortunately, most of my life seems full of recurring decisions, and I spend very little (if any) time considering the impact of my decisions before proceeding. The human mind is designed in a way that creates habits that require little thinking and allows us to live life more effectively. A great example is when you brush your teeth, you can be thankful your body is on autopilot and not taking time to assess the possible calamities that could come from you choosing to put toothpaste on the brush. You’ve already been here, done that, and got a toothpaste stain on the sink. You know it is not dangerous to brush your teeth, and you even know the most effective ways to do it. You rarely, if ever, use the toothbrush's wrong side while trying to rid yourself of the dreaded morning breath that greets you when you first awake. What a blessing it is that God has designed me with such intelligence and adaptability to live so many aspects of life effortlessly.
And yet, there is also (as always) a terrifying drawback that human nature brings to the playing field as it overuses and indulges in what God has made as good and ends up making it evil. In our laziness, overwhelmedness, and desperate desire for more, we find ourselves aggressively seeking the autopilot function in all areas of life. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. All of humanity has wrestled with this impulse for thousands of years. In fact, we get a rather significant example in the story of Lot and Abraham as they decide to split the land amongst themselves. Follow along as we learn about Decision-Making with Lot.
8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
Genesis 13:8-9
Abram graciously told Lot, "You pick whichever land you want." What a beautiful act of humility, generosity, and trust in God on the part of Abram. Abram could have chosen many options at this point, yet he chooses the most generous and trusting act he can because of his faith in God to give him what he needs no matter the land he goes into. How does Lot make his decision?
10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus, they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.
Genesis 13:10-13
Lot’s eyes drifted over the land and were not fixed on his Lord. He saw the bounty found in a beautiful landscape that promised him security, wealth, and comfortable living. Lot’s eyes lifted up to see the horizon and the great expanse of fortune that lay before him…but his eyes did not lift up high enough. As he should have said with David, “I lift my eyes up to the hills. From where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” It is easy to forget the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills when our eyes are fixed on the cattle we don’t have or believe we need to be okay. The physical land may have been beautiful, but as we see in the text, the spiritual land he was going to was dark and foreboding. How easily we fall for our wisdom and set a trap of our own making. Using the wisdom of this world, Lot made the logical choice, yet it is a choice that would end in deviance, despair, and death.
Dear Christian, I beg you to look at the decisions you make in your life. Where you work, what activities your family does, who you spend time with, where you live, where you go to church, the list goes on and on. I beg you to look at your decisions through an eternal spiritual lens and to be able to answer the question. Have I placed the spiritual good of myself, my family, and my church above what may seem the most physically, financially, or relationally good according to this world?
Many people will move across the country for a new job, to go to school, or to marry the love of their life. How many people will move themselves, their schedules, priorities, and relationships to attend a biblical church, serve in local ministry, and make the church feel like a family again? What areas of our lives do we need to revisit and honestly evaluate the spiritual effect of our decisions?
May God bless your week as you seek His kingdom first!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Dan
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