Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Drifting in the Wrong Direction
You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4 NLT)
Abram, or Abraham, lived in a pagan culture. He wasn’t raised with faith in the one true God, Jehovah, who created the heavens and the earth. But one day the Lord told Abraham to leave his pagan culture and unbelieving family and go to a land that He would show him.
Abraham partially obeyed. He left his father’s house, but he brought along his nephew Lot. When a famine came, Abraham decided they needed to go down to Egypt for a while. And while they were there, both Abraham and Lot became a wealthy.
The problem was that possessions became Lot’s primary focus in life. Lot’s heart was into wealth and worldly achievements, while Abraham wanted only to please the Lord.
Friction developed between Abraham and Lot, as it always will when people have different priorities in life. This is why the Bible warns us, “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14 NLT).
Abraham wanted to walk closely with God and enjoy fellowship with Him. In contrast, Lot wanted friendship with God, but he also wanted friendship with this world. Sometimes people who want to know God have a weakness in their faith and character. Therefore, they need other Christians to prop them up.
When Lot was around Abraham, I’m sure that he was doing fine spiritually. But when he was away from Abraham, he drifted in the wrong direction. The problem was that Lot was dragging Abraham down.
There are certain people we can spend time with who will cause our spiritual appetite to diminish. Then there are other people who will cause us to want to become more like Jesus. What about you? What kind of influence are you having on others?
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