It was a trivial thing...

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Scripture

It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him.
(1 Kings 16:31 NASB)

 

Observation


These are the words which describe the reign of King Ahab. He was ultimately more evil than any king who served before him and his wife, Jezebel...her very name has become synonymous with evil. Sadly the leap wasn't too far because gradually from generation to generation the people of God had kept moving away from him until this final leap which was so evil became a trivial thing.

 

Application


This is the way that evil works in our lives. Rarely does anyone begin a journey with the desire to become extremely evil. Instead, we begin a journey, and if we do not keep our eyes on God, we will incrementally get on the wrong track. This wrong track may not take us too far off of the path, but what are we establishing for the next generation? Will they ever be able to see and understand what God truly desired for them? Instead will they also follow a trajectory that takes them down a path that ends in an even greater distance from God's intention? Finally, one like Ahab comes along and it becomes a trivial thing for him to walk in evil. It becomes a trivial thing to marry a woman like Jezebel. It becomes a trivial thing to murder the followers of God. It becomes a trivial thing to build idols to the pagan gods. It becomes a trivial thing to break all of God's laws.

We think that this story is incredibly extreme -- but is it? How far away is contemporary society from God? Have we slipped into an attitude of complacency and would our forebears be shocked at our attitudes toward the encroachment of other gods into our lives? Has it become a trivial thing to accept the things of this world as normal?

For us to be faithful followers of God and to be able to pass our love for him to the next generation, we need to be wholeheartedly sold out to him. We cannot be Sunday only Christians (Or every other Sunday Christians!). While being a follower of Christ is not only about church attendance, church attendance does speak to our commitment. What is our commitment? Is it to ourselves and our desires for a fun weekend, or do our children see that we are wholeheartedly committed to God and to serving him? Do they see that God is a priority in our lives?

The sad truth is that if we are not careful, it will become a trivial thing to move off into the direction of sin. It's the way the enemy works -- by slyly and cunningly leading us down a path that we can so easily justify. May God help us to remain on the path he has for us and for those who will come after us. May it never become a trivial thing to walk in evil paths.

 

Prayer


Lord, please keep me on the path today and everyday that leads toward you. I pray for my children that they too would keep you ever before them. Amen.

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