The Cost of Compromise

In 1 Samuel 11 we come to an interesting little side drama.  The tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh had settled on the east side of the Jordan River 350 years earlier (Joshua 1).  This location left them at risk militarily, as they were somewhat separated from the other tribes. Sure enough, right after Saul becomes king, an Ammonite king by the name of Nahash, sets a siege against the city of Jabesh Gilead.  The people of Jabesh, not wanting to die, decided to make a deal. A compromise. They sent a message to Nahash, saying “We’ll serve you as slaves if you will let us live.” Nahash’s response was quick and to the point, “No problem, you can be my slaves, and I’ll let you live.  Oh, and you have to let me poke out the right eye of all your men.” Wow.  I doubt that was what the men of Jabesh had hoped for.

But this example makes me think of how important it is for us, God’s people, to never compromise with our enemy. Who is our enemy?  The world, the devil, and our flesh!

See we are faced with decisions every day of our lives. Some are big, some are small, but every decision has at least two paths. One is to do what is best and right in obedience to God and His word.  The other options are usually some form of compromise.  The God option often looks hard, and may affect something we want or desire.  The other options may seem easier, but may require us to compromise something in obedience to God and His word.  We may weigh those compromises, thinking “it won’t be that bad.”  Right. 

The fact of the matter is that there is always a price to pay for compromise. We may think it’s the ‘easier way’ but in fact that compromise will cost us more than we ever bargained for.  A pastor once told me “sin will take you farther than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to pay.”  Word.

When faced with a decision it’s important to remember that God does have a better way, we just have to come to the place in our life that we are willing to trust Him for that better way.

Join us Sunday for 1 Samuel 11, “The Cost of Compromise”.

… till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay