Being righteous blesses us in countless ways. The Bible assures us that the prayers of the righteous are heard by God (James 5:16). They will find life, and God will provide provision and care for their children. The fruit of their labor will not be in vain, for the eyes of the Lord are always upon them (Proverbs 10:3, Psalm 34:15).
How can one become righteous? Jesus makes us righteous. His sacrifice and shed blood justify us before God (Romans 5:9). Our obedience to God’s commands makes us righteous (Deuteronomy 6:25). Finally, our faith makes us righteous, as illustrated by Abraham. The Bible states that Abraham “believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6). So, where does our faith lie? Can it be credited to us as righteousness?
There is another type of righteousness—distressed righteousness—as seen in Lot. 2 Peter 2:7 describes Lot as “a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)” But how was Lot different from Abraham?
Both Abraham and Lot left their homeland for the land God promised. However, Abraham directly heard God’s call, while Lot followed Abraham, possibly out of love or other reasons. Their paths diverged when strife arose between their servants. Abraham graciously let Lot choose the land he preferred. Lot chose the fertile plains of Sodom and Gomorrah, attracted by its outward prosperity.
While Sodom and Gomorrah appeared prosperous, they were deeply corrupt. Despite some instances of goodwill—such as the kings of these cities offering Abraham riches after he saved them — their wickedness and outcry reached God (Genesis 18:20-21). This reminds us that appearances can be deceiving, and only God knows the true state of the heart. Many times, from the outside, people look good and righteous, but only God can hear the outcry against them.
How would righteous and distressed righteous people behave? Let’s examine the difference between these two when God approached them.
When God approached Abraham and Lot, their responses were starkly different. Abraham ran to meet the three visitors, prepared the best meal—including the tender calf from his herd—and treated them with honor (Genesis 18:2-8). In contrast, Lot walked to greet the two angels and invited them to his home, offering them shelter and unleavened bread, suggesting a more casual approach (Genesis 19:1-3).
It was the cultural tradition of Abraham’s and Lot’s families to invite guests or travelers and provide them with shelter. Following this custom, Lot invited the two angels into his home. He had only unleavened bread to offer them.
Lot had established himself in Sodom, arriving with a large entourage of servants and people, as evident from the altercation between his servants and Abraham’s. However, by the time he escaped Sodom, he had lost everything – his servants, wealth, and influence. In fact, when he fled, only his family accompanied him, with no mention of his servants.
Lot’s position at the city gate indicated his prominence in Sodom. Yet, by the time he fled the city, he had lost everything. His servants, who had once clashed with Abraham’s servants, were now gone. Even his sons-in-law dismissed his warnings as a joke (Genesis 19:14), likely due to Lot’s reputation as a jovial person who often joked around town. As a result, no one took him seriously, and his sons-in-law refused to escape with him, thinking he was joking. This highlights the danger of being a “distressed righteous” person, where constant exposure to sin can erode one’s values and effectiveness.
Distressed righteous individuals are those who slowly start doing wrong things because of the bad influence of others. The wrong thoughts and words of those around them affect their minds, leading to a loss of good values and righteousness. Lot’s story is a good example. By living in Sodom, he lost his servants, wealth, and good reputation. He didn’t leave the city when he should have, and that’s what led to his troubles.
Righteous individuals can intercede with God. Abraham boldly negotiated with God to spare Sodom if even ten righteous people were found there (Genesis 18:22-33). Lot, however, pleaded only for himself, asking to flee to a nearby city (Genesis 19:19-20). Abraham’s intercession showed a heart for others, while Lot’s request reflected self-preservation.
Are you a distressed righteous person who has given in to the ways of the world? Have you forgotten to pray for others and instead only focus on praying for your own salvation and blessings?
Now, it’s essential to note that the angels who arrived in Sodom were assigned to destroy the city and rescue Lot, thanks to Abraham’s prayers. Logically, you’d think the angels would head straight to Lot’s house to save him. But surprisingly, when you read the Bible, you find that the angels were hesitant to go to Lot’s house. It was only after Lot insisted that they agreed to go with him.
This reluctance of the angels highlights a crucial point: while intercession can bring God’s help to our doorstep, we must actively invite Him into our lives. Many people rely solely on others’ prayers, neglecting their own responsibility to seek God through prayer and meditation.
Maybe the prayers and intercession of others can bring angels to the city gate to save you, but it’s up to you to invite them into your home. Often, we become complacent, thinking, “God’s got me covered,” or “Others are praying for me, so I don’t need to.” But the truth is, we have a responsibility to cultivate our own relationship with God through prayer and meditation.
But like Lot, there’s always a need to open the door of your heart to God to save you. Only then can God take your hand to save you. God is always knocking at the door, but He doesn’t barge in. He gives you the free will and option to choose between life and death. The decision is yours.
Lot is considered righteous because he opened the doors of his house to the angels. He is righteous because he listened to them, despite initial reluctance. However, imagine how much stronger his faith would have been if he weren’t a distressed righteous person.
Let’s reflect on our own lives: are we distressed righteous or simply righteous? Righteous individuals always open their hearts to God, and as a result, God remembers to keep them in the QUIVER OF GOD.
May God bless you all…