“Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.”
(Genesis 13:12–13, NRSV)
(Genesis 13:12–13, NRSV)
Your surroundings can have a great impact upon your life choices. Being around good people can make you a better person. Surrounding yourself with friends who get into trouble can be an omen for bad things to come. It surprises me how some find it difficult to envision how a friend may be a good influence or a bad influence depending on their moral and spiritual beliefs. Today’s scripture is clear proof of the impact of your living environment upon your spiritual life.
In Genesis 13, Abram and Lot decided to live in different areas in and around Canaan. Their flocks had grown tremendously, and they needed more land to cultivate. Abram gave Lot the first choice in where to live. Lot chose the fertile Jordan valley area, lush and green. Abram moved further west into central Canaan. I’m sure Lot was pleased with his choice. The land was perfect for cultivating crops and feeding the flocks. I’m sure he thought it would be the perfect place to live. Lot settled down near the city of Sodom, there pitching his tent (Genesis 13:12).
When Lot settled near Sodom, the lush green land and nearby Jordan River were great draws. They provided wonderful opportunities to someone looking to plant fields and gather a great harvest. The land would provide a perfect breeding ground for the flocks. However, while Lot looked only at the lush green land for his opportunity, he did not perceive how sinful were the people living there. Genesis 13:13 describes the people of that area as “wicked, great sinners against the Lord.” Genesis 19 describes clearly the perils of living there. Lot urged visiting angels not to sleep out in the open (Genesis 19:2); it was that dangerous of a place. During that night, Lot and his travelers were threatened and harassed. In the end, the entire cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were leveled due to their sin (Genesis 19:24). Lot barely escaped with his life.
Lot suffered in many ways while living in and near Sodom. His lost his home and wealth. His land and flocks were destroyed. His wife died in the move. His daughters got Lot drunk and took advantage of him. His life was damaged almost beyond repair. The influence and sinfulness of Sodom stole much from Lot. Living near there affected him, his wife, his family, and their future in terribly negative ways. What seemed like a lush and wonderful place to build a life became a place of suffering and death. No blessing is mentioned of Lot ever again in scripture. Theodore Cuyler said it this way: “Lot moved into Sodom, and before long Sodom moved into him”. Sodom changed his life.
Where you choose to put down roots, the friends you keep, and the environment you live will all affect your future. They affect your decisions, your choices, your hopes and dreams. Your living environment even affects your relationship with God. How is your living environment affecting your spiritual life?
After Terry’s wife died, he went into a tailspin. He was in his early fifties and was not expecting to be a widow so early in his life. His grown children tried to help. His daughter would stop over often and asked him over for dinner several times a week. His son stopped in every few days to check on him. Despite his loving family, Terry began to have issues grieving. He became depressed. To cope, he would sometimes stop at a bar near his house for a drink after work. After a year or two of this, his drinking became more frequent. Then, Terry met a woman at the bar who was divorced. After a couple of months, they began to live together. She was a partier. She was a drinker. The two began to attend more drinking parties and joined a dart league at the bar. They soon had many friends there. Terry’s son and daughter did not like the situation. They were upset about the choices Terry had made. In response, Terry and his girlfriend pushed the kids further out of his life. Would it surprise you to know that to this day Terry has not been back to his church?
To cope with grieving, Terry chose to surround himself with alcohol, a live-in girlfriend, and bar-mates. Because of this, he no longer feels comfortable with God. Terry’s choices and surroundings have greatly influenced his relationships with family, friends, and Heaven. In the same way, your choices and friendships and living environment can nourish or destroy your spiritual life. A faithful friend sent by God can help you overcome great setbacks. A drinking buddy can numb you for a while. A tryst can make you feel younger for a few hours or days. An old friend can make you nostalgic. A new friend can bring new ideas into your life. The living environment around you and friends you choose all will greatly affect your attitude, your faith, your relationships, and your future.
Dr. John Geddie went to Aneityum, Vanuatu in 1848 and worked there as a missionary for God for 24 years. On the tablet erected to his memory these words are inscribed: “When he landed, in 1848, there were no Christians. When he left, in 1872, there were no heathen.” (J.O. Sanders, Spiritual Leadership, p. 24) The spiritual life in Aneityum was forever changed by the positive Christ-like attitude of Geddie. Their whole community was changed for the good. It is amazing how one person can so wonderfully bless an entire area!
Take a healthy look at your living environment. Does it strengthen your relationship with God? Are you healthier because of it? Does it help you make better choices? Do you feel true love there? Are there temptations in that environment that are dangerous to your future? Lot’s move to Sodom affected everything in his life. What is affecting your home and attitude today? Is there something that needs changing? What might bring you closer to God?
In Genesis 13, Abram and Lot decided to live in different areas in and around Canaan. Their flocks had grown tremendously, and they needed more land to cultivate. Abram gave Lot the first choice in where to live. Lot chose the fertile Jordan valley area, lush and green. Abram moved further west into central Canaan. I’m sure Lot was pleased with his choice. The land was perfect for cultivating crops and feeding the flocks. I’m sure he thought it would be the perfect place to live. Lot settled down near the city of Sodom, there pitching his tent (Genesis 13:12).
When Lot settled near Sodom, the lush green land and nearby Jordan River were great draws. They provided wonderful opportunities to someone looking to plant fields and gather a great harvest. The land would provide a perfect breeding ground for the flocks. However, while Lot looked only at the lush green land for his opportunity, he did not perceive how sinful were the people living there. Genesis 13:13 describes the people of that area as “wicked, great sinners against the Lord.” Genesis 19 describes clearly the perils of living there. Lot urged visiting angels not to sleep out in the open (Genesis 19:2); it was that dangerous of a place. During that night, Lot and his travelers were threatened and harassed. In the end, the entire cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were leveled due to their sin (Genesis 19:24). Lot barely escaped with his life.
Lot suffered in many ways while living in and near Sodom. His lost his home and wealth. His land and flocks were destroyed. His wife died in the move. His daughters got Lot drunk and took advantage of him. His life was damaged almost beyond repair. The influence and sinfulness of Sodom stole much from Lot. Living near there affected him, his wife, his family, and their future in terribly negative ways. What seemed like a lush and wonderful place to build a life became a place of suffering and death. No blessing is mentioned of Lot ever again in scripture. Theodore Cuyler said it this way: “Lot moved into Sodom, and before long Sodom moved into him”. Sodom changed his life.
Where you choose to put down roots, the friends you keep, and the environment you live will all affect your future. They affect your decisions, your choices, your hopes and dreams. Your living environment even affects your relationship with God. How is your living environment affecting your spiritual life?
After Terry’s wife died, he went into a tailspin. He was in his early fifties and was not expecting to be a widow so early in his life. His grown children tried to help. His daughter would stop over often and asked him over for dinner several times a week. His son stopped in every few days to check on him. Despite his loving family, Terry began to have issues grieving. He became depressed. To cope, he would sometimes stop at a bar near his house for a drink after work. After a year or two of this, his drinking became more frequent. Then, Terry met a woman at the bar who was divorced. After a couple of months, they began to live together. She was a partier. She was a drinker. The two began to attend more drinking parties and joined a dart league at the bar. They soon had many friends there. Terry’s son and daughter did not like the situation. They were upset about the choices Terry had made. In response, Terry and his girlfriend pushed the kids further out of his life. Would it surprise you to know that to this day Terry has not been back to his church?
To cope with grieving, Terry chose to surround himself with alcohol, a live-in girlfriend, and bar-mates. Because of this, he no longer feels comfortable with God. Terry’s choices and surroundings have greatly influenced his relationships with family, friends, and Heaven. In the same way, your choices and friendships and living environment can nourish or destroy your spiritual life. A faithful friend sent by God can help you overcome great setbacks. A drinking buddy can numb you for a while. A tryst can make you feel younger for a few hours or days. An old friend can make you nostalgic. A new friend can bring new ideas into your life. The living environment around you and friends you choose all will greatly affect your attitude, your faith, your relationships, and your future.
Dr. John Geddie went to Aneityum, Vanuatu in 1848 and worked there as a missionary for God for 24 years. On the tablet erected to his memory these words are inscribed: “When he landed, in 1848, there were no Christians. When he left, in 1872, there were no heathen.” (J.O. Sanders, Spiritual Leadership, p. 24) The spiritual life in Aneityum was forever changed by the positive Christ-like attitude of Geddie. Their whole community was changed for the good. It is amazing how one person can so wonderfully bless an entire area!
Take a healthy look at your living environment. Does it strengthen your relationship with God? Are you healthier because of it? Does it help you make better choices? Do you feel true love there? Are there temptations in that environment that are dangerous to your future? Lot’s move to Sodom affected everything in his life. What is affecting your home and attitude today? Is there something that needs changing? What might bring you closer to God?