If this were you, what would you do?
What would you do if, in the midst of an incredibly stressful period in your life, your neighbor offers you cocaine?
What would you do if your business partner wants you to launder money for his distant relative?
What would you do if your employer asks you to lie on the witness stand?
What would you do if your local warlock invites you to participate in demonic activity?
What would you do if your friend offers you money to kill his spouse?
What would you do if your co¬worker solicits extramarital sex?
I imagine within one or two words or comments, the average Christian could guess what he would do in each of these scenarios. These questions do not seem too hard for the Christian, much less for many unbelievers. The Bible, though, recognizes a unique connection between what are apparently large issues (similar to the six sins above) and what are seemingly smaller issues. James, in particular, highlights connections when he refers to the bit in the horse’s mouth (3:3), the rudder to the ship (3:4), the spark to the larger fire (3:5), and the tongue to the body (3:6-12).
What if we changed each of the six scenarios minimally? What would you do now?
What would you do if during that particularly stressful time instead of cocaine you are offered a cup of high-caffeinated, iced coffee mocha just before bedtime?
What would you do if instead of money laundering, your business partner asks you to tell a dissatisfied customer that he is out of the office for the week, when in fact he is in the break room?
What would you do if instead of your local warlock inviting you to participate in demonic activity, you have a choice to go fishing on a Sunday morning instead of attending church?
What would you do if instead of your friend offering you money to kill a spouse, your friend gossips about his spouse and you become angry toward him/her?
What would you do if instead of your coworker soliciting extramarital sex, you have the opportunity to view a website with pornographic pictures or watch a movie rated “M” containing sexual content?
Were your answers different from the first set of scenarios?
Reality is this: sin would be easy to bypass if the choices were as apparent as the first six scenarios; however, life is much more quick and complex than that. Instead, in the fast lane, each believer is faced with many choices each day, many of which are of the second sort. Herein lies the problem: many believers are losing the daily battle…some are losing much more — reputation, ministry, family, and friends.
The Warning
It is easy as a believer to keep one eye focused on the big issues of life (issues like God, church, evil, sins similar to the ones listed in the first six scenarios), while in the process of navigating life miss the limitless variations of sin, especially when so many may not seem that important (similar to the last six scenarios). The Apostle Paul understood this. He encourages believers to refer back to the Old Testament story of Israel for help with living life as God-honoring people. Paul writes, “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted…Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11).
Paul wants the believer to notice how easy it is to move toward a life of sin even as a believer who is in church, serving God and giving regularly. He begins by writing, “Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant.” He recalls how Israel could see the Shekinah glory of God in the cloud during the day and as a pillar of fire at night, how they walked through the sea on dry ground, were fed manna each day, and drank water from a rock that Moses struck. Yet, Israel still chose not to follow God. Even miraculous food, miraculous water, and a visible representation of God in their midst was not enough to protect them from sin.
Although Israel could not help but see God in their midst, with each step in the wilderness they slipped into complacency and hard hearts. If Israel could slip in their hearts this way, then how much easier is it for the believer today to increasingly struggle with sin where those miraculous manifestations of God are not present? It is easy. The world around the believer today reflects less and less of God and elevates self above all else. This is what makes the countless daily decisions of life so important to consider and evaluate. You do not want to be like the Israelites where with each step or decision you make, you slowly are lulled into a broken relationship with God.You do not want to be like the Israelites where with each step or decision you make, you slowly are lulled into a broken relationship with God. Share on X
In tomorrow’s blog I will develop three biblical principles to keep before you which will help you slow down in life to better win the daily battle of living life to God’s glory in a fast and complicated world.
This blog originally appeared as an article in the Baptist Bible Tribune (Sept 2009).
Pastor Kevin’s Blog | Walking together through life as friends in Christ sharing wisdom along the journey