Background
Genesis 13:10-13 NIV “Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.”
Psalm 1:1 KJV Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Compromise:
- an agreement or settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions:”eventually they reached a compromise” ·
- the expedient acceptance of standards that are lower than is desirable:”sexism should be tackled without compromise”
From the look of the first definition above, compromise does not seem so bad does it? In the world today many efforts towards peace were not possible without compromise. However the second definition is worth pondering, do you as a person lower your standards and values in order to please others? What does compromise mean in the life of the believer, what is the end of the believer who keeps compromising, what are the traits of a compromising believer? Lets get into the Word…
The steps and traits to recognize in the compromising believer is as David reveals in Psalm 1:1. one who walks in the counsel of the ungodly, stands in the way of sinners and sits in the seat of the scornful. In our faith journey practical things we do determines the strength of our spiritual life. As Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 10:23 all things are lawful, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful but not all things edify. All you do in your walk of faith is to help you grow from glory to glory and edify yourself and the body of Christ. Whatsoever you do as a believer, or a person of integrity do you stop to think how it benefits your growth? Compromising begins as Psalmist lays down, one begins to walk in ungodly counsel. Many deceive themselves in thinking and disputing that they have a strong grounding in their faith and enter into friendships, relationships, that they believe they are able to bring a change or influence but not being rooted and grounded in God, they fall. I Corinthians 10:12, let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. Before one realizes, he is standing in the way of sinners and eventually sits amongst the scornful. He who walks with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed(Proverbs 13:20).
For this is how temptation is borne, as seen in James 1:14-15 every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. A practical example is in Genesis 13:11-13 Lot at the point of separating from Abram, went after the lust of the eye, beholding the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, and he chose all the plain of Jordan. Lot built his tent near Sodom and ended up in Sodom. Lot probably thought as long as the land is fruitful, as long as I can excel here even amongst the wicked men of Sodom. Lot saw a land where wickedness dwelled as a place for him to excel but did not think of what it could cost him. Where is your pursuit and ambition leading you to? We see the end of Lot when the land was destroyed was it worth accumulating riches to the detriment of the soul? Note here that if the wife of Lot had not been infiltrated with the lusts of Sodom and Gomorrah she would have not turned back and lost her soul. Jesus said in John 14:30 for the ruler of this world is coming and he has nothing in Me, implying that there is not a trace, no grounding, nothing of the world imprinted on Him, that the enemy could have a hold on.
Compromising is the beginning of slumber and lukewarmness. In Revelations 3 the church of Sardis and the Laodiceans are warned on this matter. The compromising believer claims and looks on the outside as though strong and alive but dead on the inside(Revelations 3:1). The compromising believer thinks to himself I can do a little of this and little of that, I am still a believer, this ends him neither hot nor cold( Revelations 3:14-16). The goal of Christianity is to have a people strong, built and rooted in Christ, upholding His standard and values to show forth His glory. This cannot be achieved when we are tossed to and fro, we are to be rooted, built up and established in the faith (Colossians 2:7). I pray that as you read this word that you begin to receive strength and begin to build up again every aspect of weakness.
Up next: Remedies to the Compromising Faith.