47 Days of Justice 2024 - Day 12: Unchecked desire leads to situational ethics.

“Then Joab sent a battle report to David. He told his messenger, “Report all the news of the battle to the king. But he might get angry and ask, ‘Why did the troops go so close to the city? Didn’t they know there would be shooting from the walls? Wasn’t Abimelech son of Gideon killed at Thebez by a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall?’ Then tell him, ‘Uriah the Hittite was killed, too.’” So the messenger went to Jerusalem and gave a complete report to David. “The enemy came out against us in the open fields,” he said. “And as we chased them back to the city gate, the archers on the wall shot arrows at us. Some of the king’s men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite.” “Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged,” David said. “The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow! Fight harder next time, and conquer the city!””

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭11:18-25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Generally, what keeps us from doing the right thing is that there is a wrong thing we want to do more than we want to do what is right.

Additionally, sometimes people act as though they are hapless victims of their own desires. That is, if something crosses their minds, or some desire is stirred by their senses, they allow the thoughts and/or desires (let’s also throw feelings into the mix) to “percolate” until the desire(s) becomes “too strong” to resist.

I once had a young person sit before me and straight-faced-declared that their “desires” must be stronger than other young people’s desires. And, again, straight-faced, they used this assumption as the excuse, no, the “reason,” for their sexual promiscuity.

Now, the fallacy in such an assumption may be quite evident when presented in terms of another person. However, we might not so quickly detect the flawed, self-serving assumption concerning our own strong desires. In fact, we may erroneously suppose that all of our struggles are somehow worse than those experienced by others.

Peter addresses this “it’s worse for me” fallacy concerning fiery trials.

“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The apostle Paul warns against thinking our temptations are unique.

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Of course, it’s the human tendency to suppose our struggles are harder for us than the struggles others face. But the fact is, that assumption is simply because it is happening to us and we feel the struggle.

Indeed, it is easy to encourage other Christian brothers and sisters concerning their struggles, reminding them of their ability to overcome through Jesus Christ. However, we may find ourselves not being quite so “full of faith” when the struggle is our own.

Child of God, through Jesus Christ we have been given victory over sin’s control, indeed, victory over any kind of struggle. Therefore, we should not live as slaves to our desires.

“Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:12-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Through Christ, it is not beyond our control to do the right thing. But when we let our own desires blind us, we no longer see rightly and may actually make provision for sin.

““And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:3-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yes, allowing our desires to be our master, leads to spiritual blindness. Spiritual blindness leads to what we referenced on Day 10 as “situational ethics.”

Again, if you entertain a desire, “flirting” with acting on it, your way of being and doing will eventually accommodate it.

Imagine, King David set in motion what would result in the death of Uriah. His command led to the use of battle tactics David never would have otherwise employed. But this time it’s “different.” This time he got what he wanted: Uriah is dead.

King David did an unthinkable thing. But at least his problem is solved…or, is it?

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#resolveforhim #47DaysOfJustice