“Free me from hidden traps” (Psalm 31:4 MSG)
A few months ago, a friend of mine was approached by a non-profit, start-up company. This business would be beneficial to the local community. The guy who was spearheading the operation was personable and charismatic. He was able to convince my friend to invest in his vision and become a board member. After looking at all the accounting and getting to know more about this organization, she has discovered several problems. Yet she is reluctant to pull out. She feels trapped by her sense of loyalty.
Choices that seem harmless at first can turn out to be hidden traps that plunge us into catastrophic pits. Speeding while driving can cause fatal crashes; casual flirting online can destroy marriages; taking a few extra pills or a couple of drinks to ‘take the edge off’ can lead to an addiction. We don’t always end up facing the ramifications of our bad choices. Sometimes we get away with hundreds of mistakes before we face any consequences. The people around us might feel the effects of our behavior before we even notice that anything is amiss.
As long as we are making our own choices, it is inevitable that some of them will cause long-term damage. This is why it is important to live under the influence of God’s will. I’m not saying that this life will ever be trouble-free. However, the Lord’s perspective is superior to ours. If we follow Jesus closely, listening carefully, and responding obediently--we can avoid the hidden traps and pitfalls of evil.
No comments:
Post a Comment