(By Kim)
The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God. Obviously this faith has to be yours! Piggybacking on someone else’s faith to live your life is a shaky ground. A classic example of this was Abraham’s nephew Lot.
Are you riding on someone else’s faith?
Like Lot, you know you are surviving on someone else’s faith when:
1. Your direction in life is largely steered by what others have heard from God
God instructed Abraham to leave his father’s household and go to the land that He was showing him. While Abraham obeyed God, Lot tagged along with him. Lot was willing to make big and impactful decisions of his life based on someone else’s faith, instead of hearing for himself from God. Now this is not how it should be. God has no favourites- if he could guide Abraham, he could have guided Lot too, and so will he guide YOU if you are open to hearing from Him.
2. You are dependent on man rather than God
Lot’s eyes were fixed on his uncle Abraham more than God. On the other hand, God called Abraham as his friend because he lived a life that was in total surrender and obedience to God even when it didn’t make any sense to him. You may be born again, but does your heart long for that intimate friendship with God or are you happy with the friendships of this world?
3. Your blessings are a result of someone else’s obedience to God
God promised Abraham that all the families of the earth will be blessed through him. Genesis 13:5 says: Lot who was also traveling with Abraham was also rich in sheep, cattle and tents. Sometimes the blessings in your life may be a result of someone else’s ( like your parents or spouse) obedience to God’s Word. Only radical obedience to God’s Word can bring about a harvest of eternal blessings. If that is not the case with you, your blessings are only temporary.
4. You are easily misguided by what you see
God always responds to faith, which is never based on what your flesh can see. When left with a decision to choose land for himself, Lot was driven by what he saw. While he chose the glamorous road, Abraham went to the lonely countryside. Result? Lot ended up losing his possessions and family, while Abraham gained blessing and honor.
5. You are quick to compromise
In Genesis 13:12 we read Lot pitched his tents near the evil city of Sodom, but soon he and his family were found living in Sodom (Genesis 14:12). It was easy for Lot to compromise because his faith was shaky. In conclusion, although the Bible describes Lot as “just” and “righteous,” (which meant he kept God’s Law), because he was surviving on his uncle and mentor Abraham’s faith, his life ended in defeat.
Abraham or Lot. We know which is a better example to follow. Let us strive to be God pleasers, and like Abraham be men and women of radical faith who are ready to shake the world for Jesus. Are you with me?