Remember Lot And His Wife
John Weaver | YouTube
| Lecture Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Speaker | John Weaver |
| Source | YouTube |
| Media ID | qRu-yonwpfM |
| Subject | Family Government |
| Course | The Christian Family: Marriage and Household Order: Remember Lot And His Wife |
| Genre | Sermon |
| Date | 2016-02-11 |
| Dictation Name | |
| Book | Book 027: The Christian Family: Marriage and Household Order — Chapter 24 |
| Source Timed Segments | 61 |
Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver examines 2 Peter 2:6-8 and the life of Lot, emphasizing why believers should remember Lot and his wife. He argues that Lot, though righteous, lived a tormented life in Sodom due to financial considerations and family connections, which ultimately led to his spiritual ruin and the loss of his family. The sermon warns against prioritizing material gain and ungodly relationships over obedience to God, urging believers to count the cost of discipleship and make a decisive choice to serve the Lord.
Formatted Transcript
Introduction: The Command to Remember Lot and His Wife
Weaver introduces the sermon text from 2 Peter 2:6-8 and connects it to Jesus' command in Luke 17:32 to remember Lot's wife, noting Lot's responsibility as her head.
I want us to open our Bibles today to 2 Peter chapter 2. 2 Peter chapter 2, and we will be reading verses 6 through 8. 2 Peter chapter 2, verses 6 through 8. The title of the message today is "Remember Lot and His Wife." Notice 2 Peter 2 verse 6:
"And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds)."
There is a specific command in Scripture to remember Lot's wife. Our Lord said in Luke 17:32, "Remember Lot's wife." When we think of Lot's wife, we should automatically think of Lot. He was her head.
Lot's Righteousness and Tormented Life
Despite being declared righteous, Lot lived a life of constant vexation and torment in Sodom, worn down by the wickedness around him.
Let me point out the fact, and I've said this before, if the Bible did not specifically say that Lot was a righteous man, I would have assumed and I would have probably stated that Lot was either a hypocrite or an unbeliever. And yet we are told for a fact that he was indeed a righteous man. He may have been righteous, but according to our text, he obviously lived a very tormented life.
The Meaning of 'Vexed' and the Filthy Conduct of the Wicked
Weaver explains the Greek words for 'vexed' and 'filthy conversation,' describing the oppressive, exhausting, and shameless wickedness that surrounded Lot daily.
Not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, I am sure that all of this oppression could not have been conducive to physical health, and it certainly was not conducive to spiritual health. So the Bible uses the word "vexed" here and it describes his oppression. But notice secondly, if you would please, in verse 7: "And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked." The word "filthy" here refers to unbridled lust; it refers to excess, to licentiousness, to lasciviousness, to wantonness, to outrageousness, to shamelessness, and insolence. Now, stop and think about this. I'm going to show you the Scripture in just a moment. The Sodomites were not only perverted, they were arrogant and insolent in their perversions as well. They were totally unashamed and gloried in all that they did. If you would hold 2 Peter, but look in your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 3. Isaiah chapter 3, because God is about to condemn Judah and Jerusalem and He's going to show them what their attitude and what their disposition is likened unto. Notice Isaiah chapter 3 and let's begin reading there with verse 8. Isaiah 3:8. Look what the Bible says. Remember now, this is Jerusalem. This is Judah. This is the southern kingdom. And He says,
"For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory." Now look what God says: "The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not.
Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves." So God says in their rebellion Judah and Jerusalem became exactly like Sodom. Notice what He said in verse 9: "they declare their sin, they hide it not." In other words, they were not ashamed. They were not ashamed; they were glad, they were happy. They declared their own perversion and they openly and shamelessly declared that perversion. Nothing bothered them, and neither were they concerned with anything except their own gratification. They lived for themselves. And it is no different today. It is no different today. So if you'll look back in 2 Peter 2:7: "And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked." Now the word "conversation" here refers to their manner of life. It refers to their conduct, their behavior, their deportment. This is how they lived and what they lived for. And so He said, "And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conduct or behavior or deportment of the wicked." So fourthly, you have to consider the word "wicked." The word "wicked" here refers to one who breaks out against the restraints of law to gratify his own lust. In other words,
this individual is not only lawless, he is not only perverted, he's absolutely wicked. So let's put the thoughts together with verse 7. Lot was vexed with the filthy conduct of the wicked. And he was surrounded by the wicked, whose lives were thoroughly unbridled, lustful, and whose attitude was nothing but the epitome of arrogance and insolence. This was how they lived. It was the same every day. They did not change, they did not want to change, and they flaunted their wickedness in his face. Such an oppression was a constant factor upon Lot. Now, look in verse 8.
We go a little bit farther. "For that righteous man," notice if you would verse 7 calls him just, verse 8 calls him righteous. "For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds." So here was a righteous man, a just man, that was dwelling among the wicked. He dwelt among them. He was in their circle and in their sphere of influence. So what was the result? The result was, in seeing and hearing, he vexed his righteous soul from day to day. Now "seeing" includes looking and even glancing. There's a difference between looking and glancing. I've seen things that I did not intend to see, that I did not want to see. You just have to look, you glance, and there it is. And the only thing you can do is just turn your head. And so Lot did not necessarily stare, nor was he looking to see, but even if he glanced, even if he looked around, he could not help but see.
Why Did Lot Stay? Financial Considerations
The first reason Lot remained in Sodom was financial gain; he chose the well-watered plain of Jordan for his cattle, prioritizing wealth over spiritual well-being.
He was there for the money. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Genesis 13, but before you get there, let me quote a Scripture from 1 Timothy 6:10. I believe that first and foremost, Lot's life is a demonstration of the truth of 1 Timothy 6:10. In that passage, the Word of God says,
"For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
Now, Lot, as far as I know, did not err from the faith in the sense he certainly did not deny the Lord. He did not deny His Word. But he did indeed pierce himself through with a multitude of sorrows. So, look in Genesis chapter 13. And let me show you, if you would please, the financial considerations. In Genesis chapter 13, and let's begin reading there with verse 1. Genesis 13:1: "And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai; unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord. 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. And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me. If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly."
Now, let me just point something out. First of all, you cannot help but see the absolute graciousness of Abram. It is true that God had given Abram the land. And Abram is the one who said, "There's a problem between your herdmen and my herdmen. I don't want any problem between you and me. The whole land is before us. Separate yourself. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left." In other words, Abram gave him the absolute choice. It was all Lot's decision. And Lot, the Bible says, lifted up his eyes and saw the plain of Jordan. Now, what motivated Lot to choose the plain of Jordan?
Go back in your Bibles to Genesis 13 at verses 5 and 6. I believe these two verses are pivotal. Notice Genesis 13:5: "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." Lot was just as rich as Abram. He had plenty. He was no slacker. Now if you want to skip down to verses 10 and 12, watch. "And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. And Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom." So why did he choose the plain of Jordan?
And why did he pitch his tent toward Sodom? Here's the answer: because he had cattle. And the plain of Jordan was wonderful for grazing. It was a financial consideration. I can raise more cattle. I can feed them more cheaply. I can make more money. It's just that simple. Now, the plain of Jordan and pitching his tent towards Sodom may have been great for cattle, but it was not any good for raising children. And so basically what Lot is doing is he's choosing cattle over a family.
Why Did Lot Stay? Family Connections
The second reason was family connections; likely marrying a woman of Sodom and having children there bound him to the city, leading to his family's destruction.
Let me show you. Look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 12 at verses 4 and 5. I want you to pick up on this with me as I read. Look in Genesis 12:4:
"So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came."
Now Sarai is mentioned, the souls that they had gathered in Haran are mentioned, but there's no mention here of Lot's wife, so evidently Lot was single at this particular time. Look in Genesis 13:5-6. I read this earlier. "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."
So here, again, just Lot mentioned. Look in Genesis chapter 14 and verse 12. Lot is taken into captivity. Notice if you would Genesis 14:12: "And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed." Doesn't say anything about his wife, but they took Lot and his goods. Look in verse 16 when Abram rescued him: "And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people." Now nothing is said about Lot's wife here. You do not read about Lot's wife until you get to Genesis 19. Now, I want you to turn to Genesis 19, and before I show you what I'm trying to enunciate, I want us to look at the first two verses. The first two verses have nothing to do right now with Lot's wife, but it does tell us a lot about Lot himself. Genesis 19, notice verses 1 and 2. And here's my question—I'm going to answer it for you.
Is it possible that Lot married a woman of Sodom? Look in Genesis 19:1: "And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; and he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night." Now, you know the story. I don't have to tell you the story, but I want you to note if you would please Lot in verse 1 is sitting in the gate of Sodom. I don't know if you remember any of the
messages I've preached in times past on the gates, but the gates in the Bible always speak of authority and power. It was the elders and the rulers and the judges and the officers that sat in the gate. So here's my question: Is it possible that Lot was a civil ruler in Sodom? Did he hold an office? He would have been a well-respected man because of his immense wealth. There's no two ways about that. So that's just a thought. There's a possibility that he may have held an office in Sodom. Let me show you something else. You remember when the Bible said, "and he pitched his tents towards Sodom"? Look at verse 2: "And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's"—what's that next word?—"house." The word "house" here is indicative of a dwelling, of a permanent structure. He no longer lives in tents. He lives in a house. He lives in a house in the city. One commentator I read suggested very openly that Lot had married a woman of Sodom. I'm going to read what he wrote. He said this: "It is probable that he, Lot, was a single man when he parted from Abram, and therefore he married a woman of Sodom. He has in that case fallen into the snare of matching, or at all events mingling with the ungodly. This was the damning sin of the antediluvians. And their
country was as the garden of the Lord, but the beauty of the landscape and the superabundance of the luxury it afforded did not abate the sinful disposition of the inhabitants. Their moral corruption only broke forth into greater vileness of lust and more daring defiance of heaven. They sinned exceedingly, and before the Lord, Lot had fallen into the very vortex of vice and blasphemy."
The Consequences: Loss of Everything
When God destroyed Sodom, Lot lost his wealth, his wife, and his sons-in-law; only his two daughters escaped, and he is remembered only for his residence in Sodom and incest.
I want you to think with me. If Lot did indeed move to Sodom for financial considerations, and if he lived there because of family connections, when God judged Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities of the plain, how much did Lot lose? He lost it all. He lost all of his cattle, he lost everything, and he lost his family. The only two that got out were his two daughters. I want to show you something. Look in your Bibles to 2 Peter 2, the text that we began with. I find this extremely interesting. Look in 2 Peter 2:7. After in verse 6 he's talking about condemning Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, overthrowing them, look at verse 7: "And delivered just Lot." What? We know that his two daughters got out, but there's no mention of his two daughters. We know that his wife initially got out, was turned into a pillar of salt, and there's no mention of her. The only one that is mentioned as being just and righteous was Lot. Hmm. Wow. Now let's put two and two together. If Lot did marry a woman of Sodom, which in all probability he did, that would account for what she did. When the angel said, "Don't look back," why did she look back?
Applications for Believers Today
Weaver applies the lessons: choose a godly spouse, live in a place conducive to holiness, prioritize children over wealth, count the cost of discipleship, and decide in advance to serve the Lord.
And I have known believers who married unbelievers and their life became basically living hell on earth, and they put up with it. I've known individuals who profess to be saved just to marry a Christian woman or a Christian man, and then after they got married they reverted right back to their hellish living and their disobedient ways. It does matter who you marry. And it does matter, secondly, where you live. If you want to be obedient and if you want to be holy and if you want to be godly, why not live around people who believe like you and who will encourage you and help you? I'm certainly not condemning people who live in places I'm about to suggest. But I'm going to tell you, I don't want to live there. I would live there if God sent me there. But who in his right mind would want to live in Las Vegas? Who would want to live in New York City? Who would want to live in Atlanta, Georgia?
Stop and think about that. I have no desire to live in those places. Don't want to live in those places. I'm not saying that everybody who lives in those places are as wicked and wrong—you understand that—but I'm just saying those places are not conducive to godliness and obedient living, just like Sodom and Gomorrah were not conducive to Lot's obedience and godliness. The third thing I'm going to say is this: Children are not cattle. And they must be raised and educated and taught. And what is great for cattle and what is great for making money may not necessarily be great for raising children. Our children are going to grow up and learn from us our habits and our ways.
Fourthly, we must count the cost of following Jesus Christ. It is true that if we live obedient lives, in all probability, we will suffer. The Scripture says this: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." However, the cost of following Christ is far greater and immeasurably different than serving ourselves and living for ourselves. What did our Lord say in Mark 8:35?
"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it."
So obviously there's a difference. We can either do like the Sodomites and the people of Gomorrah. We can party and do what we want to now and lose everything. Or we can obey God and have everything. We've got to count the cost. There's going to be a cost from living obediently, and there's going to be a cost for living disobediently. That is for sure. And then fifthly, we need to have our minds made up in advance as to whom we're going to serve, to whom we're going to obey, and to whom we're going to follow. I want you to stop and think about this. When God sent Jonah to Nineveh, what did Jonah preach? "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." God gave those people 40 days.
How long did Lot and his family have? They came that night before the sun was up. "Get out. Get out." You may not have but seconds. You may not have but a split moment. You better know in advance who you're going to serve and who you're going to worship, and you better make your choice now and make it plain and mark it down in your brain and in your heart. It's kind of like Joshua said in Joshua 24:15 to those Israelites. He said, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Choose you this day. Make up your mind.
That's what he was saying. So our Lord does not tell us just simply to remember Lot like He said, "Remember Lot's wife." He tells us why we should remember Lot. And we need to understand that financial considerations and family connections should never keep us from an obedient, godly, and holy life. What did our Lord say? "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." So we need to make up our mind in advance and remember Lot and his wife. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask You now for Your grace, for Your mercy, for Your goodness and kindness in our lives. Help us indeed to remember Lot, and to make sure that our lives are not fashioned after him. May we remember Abram, the friend of God, the father of the faith, and follow in his steps. May we follow our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our great example.
Study Guide
Major Themes
The Danger of Worldly Compromise
Summary: Lot's choice to live in Sodom for financial gain led to spiritual torment and the loss of his family, illustrating the peril of prioritizing material prosperity over obedience.
Evidence: Weaver states: 'He was there for the money... Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east... and pitched his tent toward Sodom.'
The Consequences of Unequally Yoked Relationships
Summary: Lot likely married a woman of Sodom, which contributed to his family's spiritual downfall and his wife's fatal longing for the city.
Evidence: Weaver says: 'Is it possible that Lot married a woman of Sodom?... That would account for what she did... she looked back because that was her family.'
The Torment of a Righteous Soul in a Wicked Environment
Summary: Lot's daily vexation shows that a believer cannot thrive spiritually while immersed in ungodly surroundings.
Evidence: Weaver explains: 'Lot was literally exhausted... worn down... his life was a living hell on earth... from day to day.'
The Urgency of Decisive Obedience
Summary: Believers must choose whom they will serve in advance, as Lot's family had no time to decide when judgment came suddenly.
Evidence: Weaver warns: 'You may not have but seconds... You better know in advance who you're going to serve.'
Key Arguments
Lot was a righteous man who made disastrous choices.
Summary: Though declared just and righteous, Lot's decision to live in Sodom for financial reasons led to a life of torment and ultimate ruin.
Evidence: Weaver says: 'If the Bible did not specifically say that Lot was a righteous man, I would have assumed... he was either a hypocrite or an unbeliever.'
Financial considerations kept Lot in Sodom.
Summary: Lot chose the plain of Jordan because it was well-watered and good for his cattle, prioritizing wealth over spiritual health.
Evidence: Weaver states: 'He had cattle. And the plain of Jordan was wonderful for grazing. It was a financial consideration.'
Family connections bound Lot to Sodom.
Summary: Lot likely married a woman of Sodom and had children there, which made it difficult to leave despite the wickedness.
Evidence: Weaver argues: 'It is probable that he... married a woman of Sodom... This was the damning sin of... mingling with the ungodly.'
Lot's wife's fate illustrates the danger of a divided heart.
Summary: Her looking back showed her love for Sodom, and she became a monument of God's displeasure.
Evidence: Weaver says: 'She looked back, she longed, and she loved for that which God absolutely hated.'
Believers must count the cost of following Christ.
Summary: Living obediently may bring persecution, but the cost of disobedience is far greater.
Evidence: Weaver quotes Mark 8:35 and says: 'We can either... party and do what we want to now and lose everything. Or we can obey God and have everything.'
Scripture References
2 Peter 2:6-8
Context: Primary sermon text describing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the deliverance of righteous Lot.
Luke 17:32
Context: Jesus' command to remember Lot's wife, used to introduce the topic.
Luke 9:62
Context: Jesus' teaching that no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God, applied to Lot's wife.
Genesis 19
Context: The account of the angels visiting Lot, the destruction of Sodom, and Lot's wife turning to salt.
Amos 4
Context: God's escalating judgments to get people's attention, compared to warnings before Sodom's destruction.
Hebrews 11:7
Context: Noah's faithful response to God's warning, contrasted with Lot's failure to heed warnings.
Genesis 14:8-16
Context: The war and capture of Lot as a warning from God, which Lot ignored.
Isaiah 3:8-9
Context: Judah's shameless sin compared to Sodom, illustrating the arrogance of the wicked.
1 Timothy 6:10
Context: The love of money as the root of all evil, applied to Lot's motivation.
Genesis 13:1-13
Context: Lot's choice of the plain of Jordan and pitching his tent toward Sodom.
1 Corinthians 5:9-11
Context: Paul's instruction to avoid professing Christians who live in unrepentant sin, applied to Lot's situation.
Matthew 6:25
Context: Jesus' question about life being more than food, used to challenge material priorities.
Luke 9:25
Context: Jesus' warning about gaining the world but losing oneself, applied to Lot's loss.
Genesis 12:4-5
Context: Abram's departure with Lot, noting no mention of Lot's wife, suggesting he was single.
Genesis 19:12-17
Context: The angels' urgent command to Lot to bring out his family, revealing his sons-in-law and daughters.
Genesis 19:26
Context: Lot's wife looking back and becoming a pillar of salt.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Context: The command not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, applied to marriage.
Mark 8:35
Context: Jesus' teaching on losing one's life for His sake to save it, used in counting the cost.
Joshua 24:15
Context: Joshua's call to choose whom to serve, applied to making a decisive commitment.
Matthew 10:37
Context: Jesus' statement that loving family more than Him makes one unworthy, used to prioritize God over family.
Historical References
Adam Clarke's commentary
Context: Weaver cites Clarke's estimate that Lot lived in Sodom for at least 20 years.
Sodom and Gomorrah
Context: The historical cities destroyed by God as an example of judgment on the ungodly.
Alexander the coppersmith, Hymenaeus, Philetus
Context: Notorious sinners mentioned by Paul as examples of those to avoid.
Important Quotes
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds).
Significance: This is the key text that defines Lot's tormented state and his righteousness despite his environment.
No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Significance: Jesus' warning against divided loyalty, applied to Lot's wife and all believers.
But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Significance: The consequence of Lot's wife's longing for Sodom, illustrating the danger of a heart still attached to the world.
Discussion Questions
What does it mean that Lot was 'vexed' daily, and how can believers today experience similar torment when surrounded by ungodliness?
Context: Weaver explains the Greek words for 'vexed' as oppression and torture, describing Lot's living hell.
How can financial considerations subtly lead Christians to compromise their spiritual well-being, as seen in Lot's choice?
Context: Weaver argues that Lot chose the plain of Jordan for his cattle, prioritizing wealth over family and godliness.
In what ways might family connections keep someone from fully obeying God, and how should we balance love for family with devotion to Christ?
Context: Weaver suggests Lot married a woman of Sodom and stayed for his family, leading to ruin.
Why is it significant that Lot is only remembered for his residence in Sodom and his incest, despite being righteous?
Context: Weaver points out that Lot's legacy is tragic, showing the lasting consequences of poor choices.
What does it mean to 'count the cost' of following Jesus, and how does Lot's life illustrate the cost of disobedience?
Context: Weaver contrasts the cost of obedience with the cost of disobedience, using Lot's loss as a warning.
Applications
Choose a godly spouse
Summary: Believers must marry only in the Lord, as an unequally yoked marriage can lead to spiritual torment and ruin.
Evidence: Weaver says: 'It does matter who you marry... I have known believers who married unbelievers and their life became basically living hell on earth.'
Prioritize children over wealth
Summary: Parents should consider the spiritual environment for raising children, not just financial opportunities.
Evidence: Weaver states: 'Children are not cattle. And they must be raised and educated and taught. And what is great for cattle... may not necessarily be great for raising children.'
Count the cost of discipleship
Summary: Following Christ may involve suffering, but the cost of disobedience is far greater, as seen in Lot's loss.
Evidence: Weaver says: 'We can either... party and do what we want to now and lose everything. Or we can obey God and have everything.'
Make a decisive commitment to serve God
Summary: Believers must choose in advance to serve the Lord, as judgment can come suddenly.
Evidence: Weaver urges: 'You better know in advance who you're going to serve... make your choice now.'
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