Compromise
In our culture we frequently see articles in magazines with the word Compromise listed in the title; especially in articles pertaining to marriage and relationships. (Of course we see many other articles with phrases such as: Be Selfish) In the Bible, the Israelites compromised every so often and it never worked out for them. Take a look at Solomon who at one point wanted nothing more than wisdom from the Lord.
1 Kings 11
1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done.
7 On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. 8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.
9 The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD's command. 11 So the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen."
Solomon compromised when he married idolaters and he became an idolater himself. He was no longer fully devoted to the Lord. Many times compromising is not choosing the Lord’s best for us. Dying to self, casting aside pride, letting go of a controlling spirit (the need to always be right) are good things, they are godly things and certainly not compromises.
Ask the Lord to reveal to you if you have compromised in an area of your life which leads to sin of some sort. Also, ask the Lord to reveal to you where you need to die to self, cast pride out or let go of a controlling spirit which brings so much freedom and victory in our lives. Let’s choose God’s best for us!
1 Kings 11
1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done.
7 On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. 8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.
9 The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD's command. 11 So the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen."
Solomon compromised when he married idolaters and he became an idolater himself. He was no longer fully devoted to the Lord. Many times compromising is not choosing the Lord’s best for us. Dying to self, casting aside pride, letting go of a controlling spirit (the need to always be right) are good things, they are godly things and certainly not compromises.
Ask the Lord to reveal to you if you have compromised in an area of your life which leads to sin of some sort. Also, ask the Lord to reveal to you where you need to die to self, cast pride out or let go of a controlling spirit which brings so much freedom and victory in our lives. Let’s choose God’s best for us!
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