THE K I NG ' S BUS I NESS
884
Supremely Selfish. Short-sighted. Saved from Slavery.
the Western kings put to flight, but hosts of captives and great spoils were taken. Among the captives was Lot. Had he not been in Sodom he would not have been taken prisoner. Abram, the separated man, dwelt safely in his ‘ tent, beside his altar. It is interesting to note that this is the first mention of kings in the Bible and they are fight ing. The news of Lot’s capture is carried by some runaway to Abram. Abram gathers his 318 trained servants (he evidently believed in preparedness) and hurried off to the rescue. It is said that the word “ trained” here carries in its meaning that of being trained also in religious instruction. Abram’s trained servants then were like Cromwell’s Ironsides. Falling upon the victorious and returning hosts of the Eastern kings in a night sortie, Abram rescued Lot and his people and his goods. In this striking way, Abram once more manifested his kindness to Lot. Let me emphasize again that the man who was mixed up with the world owed his deliverance to the man who was separated entirely from the world. The place of separation is still the place of power. Christian men and women cannot help the men and women of the world by fellowshipping with them in their worldliness, though that is the popular doctrine today. Lot may have laughed and joked with his worldly friends of Spdom about his strict-living, old uncle over yonder at Hebron, but it was the old uncle, and not the men of Sodom, that rescued Lot. Here we have in a few verses the secret of failure in the life of a man who is favored in his environment, and the lesson can be naturally outlined as follows: HEART OF THE The Strife of LESSON the Shepherds. PRACTICAL POINTS S e e m i n g l y Shrewd,
We cannot cover all of the history of this man in this lesson but you can write over his name the word “ failure” and prove it. When poor, people can live together fairly comfortably, but when prosper ity comes difficulties and differences arise. The early days of family life when husband and wife struggled together are apt to be the happiest. The early days of church life where all are struggling and sacrificing and serv ing together, are the happiest days of that church’s life; but numbers and riches bring strife, and so the servants of Abram and the servants of Lot strive about place. Strife reveals the character of men. Abram walked with God, but Lot' walked with Abram. He was with Abram, but not at heart with him. Abram walked by faith, and Lot walked in Abram’s shadow. Peter tells us Lot was a righteous man (2 Pet. 2:7) but he was no doubt a carnal believer. Abram had an altar, but you never hear of Lot’s altar. Abram decided upon a separation. “ How can two walk together except they be agreed?” - The only safe rule for a saint is separation from the worldly Christians. Abram is the elder and entitled to the choice of ways, but he is magnanimous and yields the choice to Lot. Choice indicates character. The contrast is shown in the uplifted eye (Cp. vs. 10 and 14). Abram is unselfish and unworldly, and followed the Scriptural injunction “ in honour preferring one another.” He promoted peace by surrendering self. “ The ser vant of the Lord must not strive.” He looked up and out to God. “While we look not on the things which are seen.” “ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.” “ Evil communications corrupt good man ners.” “ Be not unequally yoked
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