Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. After Lot moved to Sodom, the Lord reaffirmed His promise to Abram and even expanded on it (13:14-17). Lot wasn’t just deciding for himself. We must choose, as others before us, to hand out the life preservers of God’s remedy for salvation because our world is nothing, but a sinking ship that is destined for ruin and few are choosing the lifeboats. In verse 14, as Abram is standing there wondering if he did the right thing (and perhaps Sarah was asking him the same question), God tells him to lift up his eyes and look in every direction. The apostle Paul described it, “as having nothing yet possessing all things” (2 Cor. Lot didn’t want any part of the hard life of faith, of living in famine-stricken Canaan. But those choices set in motion a series of events which shape your life and the lives of your children and grandchildren after you. When (if ever) is it right to fight for your rights, and when is it right to give in? 6:10). How can we know whether we are under the influence of greed? The offspring of those disgraceful nights were the Moabites and the Ammonites, two of Israel’s perennial enemies. Why We Can Expect Persecution To Grow Worse This Year, How To Have Godly Patience In An Impatient World, Questions To Ask Before Someone Is Baptized, Ice Dragon: Legend of the Blue Daisies – Movie Review, Phoenix Wilder And The Great Elephant Adventure – Movie Review, The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island – Movie Review. By faith, Abram had already renounced everything visible and opted for the unseen promises of God. One night in November, 1980, the Lord enrolled us in a crash course on this subject. see thou to that. Wealth can be a blessing, but we need to recognize something that isn’t said very often in our prosperous culture: Wealth is a dangerous blessing! Likewise, this demonstrates that we too can sin because we are deceived or sin despite knowing better (Galatians 6:7-8; 1 Timothy 3:13; Titus 3:3). But it’s right there, in those little 25 cent choices, that our lives take their direction. Help us to make the choice to take our cross and follow you. Students will have to choose if they want the treasure, knowing it will require knocking down (and consequently picking up) the surrounding items. Lot’s problem, like many Christians today, was in following through, walking step by step in dependence upon the Lord, saying no to the things of this world based on faith in the promises of God. Email. When we choose to carry our cross, it means that we are willing to give up everything to follow Jesus. Some choices are simple and even become routine, while others are . Hence, how crucial that we think through our choices, especially the big ones, the ones that can impact us and our families for the rest of not Previous post: What Is The 5th (Fifth) Commandment In The Bible? The Bible is a book of God’s Word given to us for our learning so that we can make choices and avoid bad consequences so that we can enjoy the blessings and fellowship of God. is a pastor, author, Christian educator and Biblical counselor who has served in ministry since 2001. The GenYes group decided to use choices and consequences as the theme for this video. The herdsmen of Lot and of Abram were quarreling because there wasn’t adequate land to support all their flocks. I hope & believe that many shall benefit from this article as I have. – Nick Diliberto, Ministry to Youth. ... Galatians 6:7-8 clearly establishes that a person will reap the consequences of his choices. The Search OF the Savior: Why Jesus Came, Part 2 (Gal. God had promised the land to Abram, not to Lot. Copyright 1996, Steven J. Cole, All Rights Reserved. Since many choices have eternally significant consequences, how do we make good choices? She ends up pregnant or with a venereal disease. Life application. When you pick up one end of a stick, the other end always comes with it. Lot’s choice of Sodom was based on what would bring him quick gratification, but he didn’t take into account God’s promise to Abram about the land. 2 Timothy 4:1-5 “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. Abram chose by faith, not by sight, and ended up spiritually and financially blessed, seeing and possessing by faith the whole land of Canaan, although he died owning only a burial plot. To what extent should we protect our children from the pagan world in which we live. This lesson helps peel back the “why”, “how” and “what” behind their choices. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang” (1 Tim. We’re given a clue when verse 10 says that Lot saw the valley “like the land of Egypt.” Lot’s heart was still down in Egypt, where he had become rich along with Abram. First he looked toward Sodom (13:10). Grades 4-6 Introductory Activity – I’ve Done That. Dr Michael L has written 155 articles on What Christians Want To Know! 6:33, emphasis mine). The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.”. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” It enabled Paul to be content with much or with little, because Christ was his sufficiency. Looking for youth group lessons or Bible lessons for kids? This, by the way is the concluding chapter in the Sermon on The Mount. Dr. Mike and his wife, Pamela Rose, live in Northeast Ohio and they have children and grandchildren that live in various states. Looking at consequences through the understanding of our choices being a response to God. Sadly, we too often wonder why God is not blessing us, yet do not consider that perhaps we too are running with the wrong crowd and our children are growing up to be just like us. God wanted to give Abram a graphic picture of what it means to possess by faith what God had promised, even though it wouldn’t be an actuality in Abram’s lifetime. To whom much is given, much shall be required (Luke 12:48). But, no matter what, the choices we make always have consequences. Share Tweet Google Pinterest Mail. Lot has often been criticized for moving to Sodom, but it is not often mentioned that both Abram and Lot lived in corrupt cultures. So much strife could be avoided in the family and in the church if we would put a premium on our relationships, set aside our rights, and let the Lord take care of us. Where did we ever get the notion that wealth will solve our problems? Activity #1. Tell kids that people can make good choices or bad choices and that whatever choices they make have consequences. It would not seem to matter much whether a drop of water goes to the left or to the right. There are stories of courageous faith and miraculous victories as well as stories of deception and rebellion that spiraled into defeat and chaos. We too must make the choice to continue to focus on what God has called us to do as believers living in a world that is now, more than ever, rejecting God. (Matthew 7:24-27) Use this story for your kids Sunday school lesson to emphasize this life skill. 14:19). Charles Simeon, a godly 19th century British pastor, offered three helpful criteria for evaluating ourselves (Expository Outlines on the Whole Bible [Zondervan], XII:469-471). All the land he can see will be his. Next we find him living in Sodom (14:12). Principles give guidelines for behavior that we follow. However, this comes as no surprise to God. Offer a treat or treasure, but place it under or near a stack of other items (books, boxes, dominoes, etc.). But here Simeon is getting at the principle which enabled Job, when he lost all his worldly possessions, to say, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Dr. Michael L. Williams choices, We must put fellowship with God above the approval of the world in all our decisions. I’ve got to admit “Sorry I asked” and “Ugh, boring” were both thoughts that ran through my mind. The story of Lot’s choice (Gen. 13:5-18) teaches a crucial lesson about life’s choices: Since choices often result in eternally significant consequences, we must choose in line with God’s principles. His family and many servants and their families would be affected by his decision. Two drops of water, two entirely different destinations, but one small turning point that determines the outcome. The original choice wasn’t a big deal, but the outcome was life-changing. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. We must make that once and for all commitment. He is a Christ-centered counselor and in addition to counseling, he teaches how to overcome life issues Biblically on topics such as anger management, marriage, addictions, and other subjects typically referred to as mental illnesses. If we could share how we all came to know Christ as Savior, I would guess that many of you chose to go somewhere where you met someone who started talking to you, which led to a chain of events resulting in your salvation. Especially if you create some space at the end of the message, allowing students to reflect and go to God with the choices they make. 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