The Danger Of Compromise

All of us have a particular group of people that we are comfortable with. While we know some people are quite versatile and can adapt themselves to any group they associate with, others have a hard time adapting.

Illus: For example, we all know there is a proper way to arrange a place setting at a dining room table. Still, many will simply put the eating utensils on the right for every-day service. WHY? Since most folks are right handed it just seems to be the most logical place to set the silver. Then someone comes along and says, “Oh, you do not believe in practicing proper etiquette?” We say, “Sure.” Then we might explain, “We believe in being proper, and the proper thing is to place the fork on the right side, take our right hand, pick up the fork, scoop up a bite of food, and our mouth will fly open as we bend our elbow.”

Seriously, most of us feel comfortable with those who believe in such logic. When we are taken out of the role that seems logical, then we feel uncomfortable.

The Bible is God’s spiritual etiquette Book. It contains all the DO’s and DO NOT’S that we Christians may know how to function at ALL TIMES and in ALL PLACES.

As we are in contact with people each day, we may find ourselves doing what others are doing when we are in unfamiliar situations. Often Christians live like this. We find ourselves in situations where we do not know what to do so we follow the crowd. If we are not careful we may find ourselves violating God’s commandments and we may be “eating out of the same hog troughs” that the ungodly eat out of in the same fashion they eat out of them.

Such was the case with King Solomon. Look at 1 Kings 11:1-11. We read, “But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee...”

God became very angry with Solomon because Solomon ALLOWED OTHERS TO INFLUENCE HIM TO COMPROMISE HIS CONVICTIONS.

He first DISOBEYED the Lord by GOING IN TO THE HEATHEN WOMEN AND ALLOWING THEM TO COME TO HIM.

The Lord warned him, in verse 2, “...for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods...”

Sure enough, as Solomon began to associate with those women, he began to compromise his convictions. Soon he became like them. God, Who had been pleased with him at one time, became very angry with him. God became so angry that He took Solomon’s throne from him. God did that BECAUSE HE HAD SET DOWN THE RULES FOR SOLOMON TO FOLLOW.

God did not just arbitrarily give those rules. HE MADE THOSE RULES FOR A REASON.

God gives us definite rules. He has a reason for giving us these rules. It is for the same reason He made rules for Solomon. If we break these rules and COMPROMISE we will be just like the ungodly and serve the same gods they serve.

Two of the biggest words having to do with Christian living begin with the letter “C.” The first is COMMITMENT! The second is COMPROMISE. God wants us to COMMIT our lives to Him. He does not want us to COMPROMISE.