“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” – James 1:19

For Meditation

Three scriptures never cease to amuse me every time I read them. They reveal how carelessly we embrace suggestions we perceive with favorable consideration, but do not think through its implications.

The first one comes from the Garden of Eden when Satan got Eve to disobey God.

“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it” (Genesis 3:6).

Of course, we all know the result of Adam’s response.

The second is the story of Abraham and Sarah and what led to the birth of Ishmael. When Sarah thought God had kept her from having children, she did what was favorable to her.

“Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her” (16:2).

Abram agreed to what Sarah said, and you know the result.

Then there is the story of Lot and his two daughters. 

One day the older daughter said to the younger: 

“Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children—as is the custom all over the earth. Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father” (19:31-32). 

Of course, the younger obeyed the older, and the results were two nations that became enemies to Israel. The point I am making here is this.

 We cannot use illegitimate means to achieve favorable ends and expect God to stamp His approval on them. Adam was wrong. Abraham delighted himself with a terrible counsel from his dear wife, and the younger of Lot’s daughter allowed her older sister to coerce her into a sinful act. 

Jesus presented us with the best example when He rebuked Peter for his proposal to abandon the plan for the cross.

“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Matthew 16:23).

That is the key, folks! As children of God, we go for only what concerns Him and not merely what concerns humans. For in His kingdom, the end does not justify the means. The means is His most treasured gift from His children.

There is something I call “the sin of favorable suggestion.” Let us run from it, just as Joseph did (Genesis 39:12).

Shalom.