“A DOUBLE-MINDED man,” says James, “is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8. He has two minds. One mind desires this world; the other desires the next. One mind seeks the approval of God; the other the favor of men. Sometimes one mind controls; sometimes the other. Under the influence of the better mind, the man takes steps heavenward. But the other mind still living, and only held in check for a little time, on the first occasion that gives it the advantage, asserts the lead, and all the ground that was gained in the direction of Heaven is lost.
Sometimes both these minds act with so nearly an evenly-balanced force that the man is neither the one thing nor the other. Men with singleness of purpose are sure to succeed. The double-minded man is certain to make an utter failure. Lot and his wife are proper examples of these two classes. Both believed the warning; both desired to escape the coming destruction. They had great possessions, as we may judge from Gen. 13. They were agreed in leaving all, to flee for life. Both started out of Sodom, and for a space journeyed over the plain. But now the difference between them reveals itself. Lot had only one mind. Sodom had no hold on him. He must reach Zoar. Not so his wife. She had strong attractions toward Sodom, as well as strong desires to make her way to Zoar. She was simply double-minded. She followed one mind as long as she could. Then the other mind asserted its claims. She looked back toward Sodom and in a moment became a pillar of salt. But not even this terrible calamity could cause righteous Lot to turn his face from Zoar. Lot and his wife determined their cases before ever they left Sodom. It was this difference in religious experience which made itself so conspicuous on that eventful day. Reader, which one of these are you like? Have you the single mind of Lot, or the double mind of his wife?