7.24.18 Praise & Prayer Prompt: When We Compromise Christian Values

PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• As I was searching through pictures to make today’s graphic, I can across this photo of balloons floating away.
It reminded me of something that happened a few weeks ago…
My husband and I were driving home when balloons started showing up around us.
We saw them both caught in the airflow of the road or where they’d escaped the low air current and were flying up high in the sky.
We caught up with the car that was losing balloons just as Minnie Mouse was headed straight for us (there’s a sight to behold at 45 MPH).
She made a beeline for the sky at the last minute, so no collision or awkward conversations with Mickey needed…
The people in this car had clearly spent a lot of money on balloons but for some reason, they chose to ride around with them on the outside of their car rather than the inside.
Believe me, I know what a pain it is to drive with balloons in the car, but seriously?
How on earth did they think balloons were going to handle bouncing against the car on roads where the speed limit ranged from 35 – 55?
By the time they finally pulled over, all they had left were the plain “filler” balloons.
All the nice, expensive Mylar ones had flown away.
With that memory on my mind this morning, I think there’s a life lesson.
When we anchor our Christian values without considering how secure they are tethered, we run the risk of losing them.
And it can be a costly mistake.
One of the Bible’s best examples of compromised values is of King Saul.
He was chosen and anointed as the first king of Israel.
We first meet Saul in 1 Samuel 9, and by chapter 10, the prophet Samuel had anointed Saul as king.
Saul started off right.
But a single act of disobedience in chapter 13 set off a chain of events that would ultimately cost Saul his life and remove his lineage from the royal line of Israel.
His story is summed up in 1 Chronicles 10:13-14, “So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He failed to obey the Lord’s command, and he even consulted a medium instead of asking the Lord for guidance. So the Lord killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.”
And once again, it started with a compromise to God’s instruction.
If we go back to 1 Samuel 13:8-14, we learn what happened.
Saul grew impatient waiting on Samuel so he took it upon himself to organize a burnt offering.
Now, why was this a big deal?
A couple of things…
Saul was given clear instructions on what to do.
Unless God gives us options for the tasks He gives us, we’re wise to do exactly as He says.
God is looking for obedience.
He doesn’t want us to be dependent on ourselves or anyone other than Him.
Moreover, Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin; he wasn’t qualified to make the sacrifice as that was the responsibility of the Levites.
Saul’s compromise continued in 1 Samuel 15, when he was instructed to completely destroy an enemy nation.
And by destroy – God meant everything.
Every person and animal connected to this enemy of Israel.
His instructions were clear.
But Saul took it upon himself to spare the life of the enemy king and the livestock.
When confronted by his disobedience, Saul made excuses about his reasons for compromise.
But with God, it’s either obey or disobey.
There’s not a grey area for compromise.
And when we as Christians don’t hold strong to our values and commitment to follow God’s will, we find ourselves removed from His blessings, with all our balloons flying away.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
And when we do that, our values are firmly anchored and they aren’t going anywhere.
We lose our values when we disobey or we trust ourselves more than we trust God and His plan.
Today, as you pray, thank Jesus for reminding us to seek God’s will first, and even modeling it for us when He prayed, “Not My will, but Yours be done” in Luke 22:42.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you seek God’s will first so your values cannot be compromised, but they will remain fully tethered to you in all circumstances.