James Montgomery Boice's thoughts: "I wonder if anyone is thinking that the sins of Lot seem small. If you are thinking this way, I fear for you. Can't you see that one of the reasons why you can't sin just a little bit is precisely that you can sin that bit? There would be no danger if God always stepped in to stop you from doing it. But God does not stop you. There are limits to what God will permit but, nevertheless, God will let you sin. He will let the Jews construct their golden calf. He will permit David to commit adultery with Bathsheba and then murder her husband. He will allow Gomer to run off with other lovers. He will not interfere when the prodigal leaves home to squander his inheritance in a foreign country. In the final analysis, God will allow you to do what you are committed to doing - and you will have to bear the consequences of your actions.
Consider the consequences of Lot's sins on his wife. Lot may have argued at this stage of his life, as some do, that his "little sins" were hurting no one but himself. But although it may have seemed that way for a time, this was not true, and others most certainly were hurt by his actions. His daughters were hurt; the proof is in their decadent morality. But the chief example is Lot's wife, who could not seem to tear herself away from the city. Presumably she lingered behind, looked back, and was overtaken in the destruction.
If you are a Lot, I wish I could adequately press that home to you. Fathers, your sins of family neglect or drinking or sexual escapades will hurt your family. They will hurt your wife and your children. Mothers, your socializing will hurt your children, who need your love and care. Young people, the sins of your youth - your drugs, drinking, and promiscuity - will hurt everyone with whom you have contact. They will hurt your parents, who want better things for you. They will hurt your peers, for you will be part of the pattern of life that destroys them and their potential, In the future, you will be less prepared for the work you have to do. Ministers, your sin of neglect of Bible study and sermon preparation will hurt your parishioners. Employers, your sins will hurt your employees. Workmen, your halfhearted work and wasted time will hurt your company and other workers. Politicians, your sins will injure the people you are elected or appointed to represent.
Sin always has consequences, both for the individual who sins and for others. So abandon it, however small it may seem to you. Whatever it is, it is not small in God's sight, and its effects are incalculable."
Candy's thoughts: This devotional was originally published in 1973 (which explains some of the antiquated language) and is certainly an equal opportunity offender. All types of sinful people are mentioned, and it still is not an exhaustive list of examples. Boice's main point is a good one - that lack of wisdom in identifying and eradicating the "little sins" in our lives generally leads to much bigger offenses and consequences for ourselves and others.
Many years ago one of the books that I taught at Women's Bible Study at EPC was Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges. (I highly recommend this title if anyone is interested in further exploring this topic). It was an eye-opening study on deceiving ourselves. We decide that we are not as bad as others, so we let sin go unchecked. The Greek word for "deceiving" can also be translated as "defrauding," meaning that by doing so we defraud ourselves of the blessings of obedience. It turns out that we are lying and stealing, against God, others, AND ourselves. We don't need an outside enemy to destroy us. All we need to do is convince ourselves that our little sins don't really matter.
In The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom had to confront her sin which could have seemed "respectable" compared to that of her Nazi captors.
ReplyDeleteGood point!
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