When the boys were growing up, sometimes they wanted to play together, but they each wanted to play something different. I taught them a way to compromise that prevented many arguments.
I’d have one choose 3 games that he wanted to play. Then, I’d have the other one chose from those 3. They were really a lot alike so it worked well for them.
How well do you compromise? What do you compromise?
When you are talking about choosing from 3 moral and ethical games, it really doesn’t matter what the result of the compromise. Compromise is a beautiful thing. It’s a form of submitting yourselves one to another. Peace abounds.
When the choice is more critical, compromise is not an option. Compromise becomes a hindrance and a distraction at best. Consider what Sanballat wanted Nehemiah to do in this passage.
Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
Nehemiah 6:1-4
Sanballat wanted to take Nehemiah away from what God had him doing before he could finish the job. Without the gate, vulnerability still existed for the Jews. Away from the safety of the wall, Nehemiah would have placed himself in danger.
This compromise was not just a compromise of what God wanted Nehemiah doing, but it would have compromised his safety. Ultimately, any time you compromise what God has for you to do, you are out of the will of God. God’s plan for your life is perfect.
Opposition comes in many forms. This is just another very effective and somewhat subtle form. I encourage you to never compromise what God has given you to do. Never compromise what you know to be right, either. Stay true to yourself, and stay true to God. You will be glad you did.
LIFE APPLICATION
Key Focal Verse:
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:12-15
Today’s challenge is to ask God to show you if you have compromised what He has given you to do. If you have, turn back. Get back on course. Stay the course. Ask God to show you when it is important for you to not compromise even those little things in life that seem unimportant to us, but He may be using for His purposes. We cannot always see what God is doing.