Trust

EVIDENCE OF COMPROMISE

Trust in the LORD with all your heart 
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, 
and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-7

Recently I had the opportunity to interview several friends for a particular project. The conversations were basically existential in nature, however; in discussing the issues of life, questions arose relating to the steady decline of God-fearing men. Was it ironic that they all had the same concerns and anxieties, which were centered on marriage and self-identity? Hmmm, I quietly expressed hesitation for I knew this was a very sensitive subject one that needs further investigation nevertheless I thought more on the matter and shuttered as I reclined into objectivity, “these are relevant and thought-provoking inquiries.” Although I’m a God fearing man I nonetheless shamefully gasped as each interviewee asked nearly identical questions relating to the issue.

Questions that seem to overflow like torrent rivers of frustration bursting from the depths of their beings. Deep within them I can sense a hurt, a loneliness, and discomfort as each explained their circumstance. Some would say that it’s a source of embarrassment, an emptiness, and feeling as if an unfair punitive citation has been leveled against them because of their choice to focus on their careers. Successfully accomplishing their education goals only to find the well bone dry afterwards. Some, even venturing outside of the church to find a suitable mate only to be left shattered and devastated.

~Compromise: the acceptance of standards that are lower than is desirable~

For some reason, this reminded me of the story of David who had a familiar compulsion to take matters into his own hands…taking the census. Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. 

            2 Samuel 24: 1-13 Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.”

            But Joab replied to the king, “May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?” The king’s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.

            After crossing the Jordan, they camped near Aroer, south of the town in the gorge, and then went through Gad and on to Jazer.  They went to Gilead and the region of Tahtim Hodshi, and on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon.  Then they went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah. After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 

             Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand.

            David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”

            Before David got up the next morning, the word of the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer:  “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’” So Gad went to David and said to him, “Shall there come on you three^[b^] years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”

            Taking a census in and of itself isn’t necessarily wrong however, taking it because of impatience, not believing/trusting God, pride and or ambitious curiosity is. Taking any advice that suggest you do anything outside of your belief is ill advice let alone marrying a person who doesn’t share your beliefs is toxic and an un-rightly division www.therightdivide.wordpress.com of truthful realistic sound wisdom. The grass isn’t greener on the other side.

~Compromised: bring into disrepute or danger by indiscreet, foolish, or reckless behavior~

If you decide to take a census be certain to do a complete one, one that is inclusive of the devastation that follows in disobedience. The consequences from those who’ve taken matters into their own hands are catastrophic. Keep yourself from the dangers of compromise for this is not an area to do so.

Many who left the straight path have been stained with hurt…but here’s the good news friend…God restores and only he can erase the evidences of compromise that you may bear.