Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. (Gen 19,1)
...and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds). (2 Pt 2,7-8)
Abraham was described as "very wealthy" before his separation from Lot, and the wealth of both was "so great that they could not dwell together." This means, then, that Lot, too, was already considerably wealthy before coming to Sodom, and it may be assumed that his fortune was increased in the fertile plains around the city - for he chose this area for its profitability.
As a man of wealth, an able businessman, he enjoyed the esteem of his community. Sodom was a wealthy city, and Lot excelled there as well. The messengers found him sitting in the gate, which is not mentioned by accident - the city gate was the place where the elders of the city met to settle communal affairs or adjudicate disputes. Lot was used to this place, it was not his first time here. Sometimes, at times like this, it ran through his mind that he could be content with his life. In fact, he had achieved everything he wanted, wealth, success and respectable status. And none of it was gained dishonestly, it was the result of his own work. His wife, his whole family can be justly proud of him!
It was the truth, of course, but the kind of truth that can blind one's eyes so that it is hard to see its reverse side. Lot never fit in with the people of Sodom. And it wasn't just a natural jealousy for those who had more than us and had come here from who knows where. The main reason was that Lot was different. He was unwilling to engage in their perversions that were increasing, and kept his distance. He had internal inhibitions, grounded in the remnants of his faith, his different background, and his years with Abraham.
Lot broke with him at that time to be able to independently realize himself. As he looked back on his last years, he enjoyed a sense of satisfaction: who else but he could consider himself a successful, happy man? But if he could have faced the truth, he would have had to admit that he had lived the whole of the SUCCESSFUL part of his life in great inner contradiction, constant tension and restlessness. He was trying to accommodate two sides and reconcile the irreconcilable: the insistence of his ego, namely the desire for wealth and success among the people of this world, and that of his conscience, the inner compass of heart, which was being trampled day after day by what he was experiencing among the Sodomites.
Since Lot was not actively seeking God, the first call was stronger, and he naturally complied to it. He had gained much outwardly to lose what was most precious within. He lived in constant tension, his conscience was beaten down, conflicts with those around him multiplied, and he was burdened with concern for the safety of his dearest. Unfortunately, their future here really didn't look promising. If he was able to admit the truth, he would have to wonder if all his success in Sodom had been worth it.
