Partners in Crime
Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
Proverbs 29:24
Solomon aptly describes the feeling of someone who recognizes that he has partnered with a thief. I rarely doubt if the unknowing individual awakes in the morning with a resolution to perform a heinous crime. Rather, he is led down the slippery slope by enticements that have repercussions of which he is not aware.
Doesn't the same happen to us? While our "friends" don't convince us to rob a bank, they do convince to lower our guard against sin. Often, we are convinced that everyone is doing it and there is nothing wrong with.... a little gossip, taking advantage of others, taking something that doesn't belong to us, looking at things we shouldn't, and the list goes on and on. While the offenses rarely seem egregious at first and rarely does anyone get hurt initially, the final toll on our hearts are beyond measure. Only after the sin has matured do we fully realize the true impact of our actions.
David clearly felt similarly threatened in Psalms 140. In Psalm 140:4 he recognizes the risk: Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings. But unlike us in many situations, he also recognizes his protection in Psalm 140:8 - Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
Do you feel tempted today? If so, follow David's example in Psalm 140 and seek the strength to resist from the One who is always able to protect us from becoming partners in crime!
Proverbs 29:24
Solomon aptly describes the feeling of someone who recognizes that he has partnered with a thief. I rarely doubt if the unknowing individual awakes in the morning with a resolution to perform a heinous crime. Rather, he is led down the slippery slope by enticements that have repercussions of which he is not aware.
Doesn't the same happen to us? While our "friends" don't convince us to rob a bank, they do convince to lower our guard against sin. Often, we are convinced that everyone is doing it and there is nothing wrong with.... a little gossip, taking advantage of others, taking something that doesn't belong to us, looking at things we shouldn't, and the list goes on and on. While the offenses rarely seem egregious at first and rarely does anyone get hurt initially, the final toll on our hearts are beyond measure. Only after the sin has matured do we fully realize the true impact of our actions.
David clearly felt similarly threatened in Psalms 140. In Psalm 140:4 he recognizes the risk: Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings. But unlike us in many situations, he also recognizes his protection in Psalm 140:8 - Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
Do you feel tempted today? If so, follow David's example in Psalm 140 and seek the strength to resist from the One who is always able to protect us from becoming partners in crime!
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