"This was the guilt of your sister Sodom, she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy."(Ezekiel 16:49)
Bring up the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and the talk will usually head into sexual sin, specifically homosexuality. If you're not familiar with the story, God tells Abraham that he's going to go visit these two towns because he's heard they are notorious sinners. No mention of what makes them so is given by the way. God is obviously convinced that the stories are true and tells Abraham that he's going to destroy those towns. Abraham dickers God down to 10 righteous folk residing there to call of the plan, to which God agrees or at least ends the bargaining session.
We know that the men of the town are hostile to these visitors, asking to "know them." Usually a euphemism for sex. They are of course wanting to rape them which isn't quite the same as having sex. Lot offers his daughters instead, which doesn't make the story any better. Nobody ultimately gets raped but the towns are destroyed. And thus the conclusion reached that this is what happens to places where sex is out of control, and especially certain kinds of sex.
I find it interesting that Ezekiel doesn't mention sex. In the next verse he does say that they were haughty and did abominable things, but doesn't elaborate on what those things are. But not aiding the poor and needy in spite of being blessed materially is specifically mentioned. A problem that is brought up over and over again throughout the whole Bible.
While it isn't sexy to worry about not caring for the poor and needy, it is a place where we are called to place our focus. If as much time and energy was spent on caring for the poor and needy as is spent on who is sleeping with who and what positions they use, we might be better in God's eyes.
Blessings,
Ed
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