04/19/2017
I have been faithful in resisting and defeating the large challenges of faith, but will the small things that go nearly unnoticed trip me up? That is what our thought focuses on this morning.
Joab was a strong man and loyal to King David, and then to King Solomon. He resisted joining the coup that Absalom perpetrated against David, but was tripped up by Adonijah. He was undone by his strength because that is what both these subversive men desired.
“When the news came to Joab—for Joab had supported Adonijah although he had not supported Absalom—Joab fled to the tent of the Lord and caught hold of the horns of the altar. And when it was told King Solomon, "Joab has fled to the tent of the Lord, and behold, he is beside the altar," Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, "Go, strike him down."”
1 Kings 2:28-29 ESV
Sometimes we find ourselves in a position of faith in which we have resisted the large temptation, only to later find ourselves undone by smaller ones. The big evils are easy to identify and this makes them more readily confronted, but the small ones come like thieves in the night; they woo us and convince us that they are insignificant and that no one will ever know... then we deceive ourselves into believing that God doesn't see them either.
President Richard Nixon was in a position where the temptations in his powerful life were larger than for most of us, and he seemingly resisted them, but when Watergate was revealed it became clear that his pride and loyalty would be his undoing. It was never proven that he ordered the break in at Watergate, but he defended the action out of prideful loyalty to the men who did... and this is what undid him.
Do we find ourselves in such predicaments? Do we resist the large sins, and then fall prey to those that surround them? By comparison, committing adultery seems to be a far greater sin than just considering such a thing, but listen to the words of Jesus...
“"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Matthew 5:27-28 ESV
The big sin of action begins with the seemingly innocent sin of contemplation. You have often heard the axiom "you are what you eat", well it is equally true that "you are what you think." That is why Paul wrote these words to the Philippians...
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Philippians 4:8 ESV
Then there are the things we encounter on our jobs, we are dedicated employees in every way. We work and perform our duties, but one day we repeat a rumor at the coffee pot about another employee, and it sows discord in the office place. It's the little thing that tripped us up. Beware of the things that seem insignificant... yet carry big prices. Just as surely as people can see God in you... they can see pettiness and sin as well. This diminishes the view of God they once had, and might even destroy their budding faith.
So as we go through our day, let's be cognizant of all the little temptations and desires that could undo us. Let's treat one sin just as we treat another, and clean up the the crumbs from around the larger mess.
Prayer:
Father, I praise your name, and ask that you keep me keen to all of the small sins that try to fly under the radar of my faith. Lord, perfect me in every way... even in the smallest of details. I have studied that you are "in the details", and I pray that you make me aware of them in all I do. Holy Father, you strengthen me against the mighty enemies of sin in my life, I ask you to make me diligent in standing against those that steal in to rob my faith, undetected. You who have made the greatest of creatures, also counts every hair on my head. May I not let a single hair of sin go unaccounted for in my prayers and in my life... give me the eye of Christ as I seek them out. Guide me Holy Spirit.
Rich Forbes