“Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, ‘That is no transgression,’ is a companion to a man who destroys.” Proverbs 28:24
Devotional Thought For The Day
What Christian would not be shocked and outraged by the thought of a child repaying his/her parents by robbing them? Aside from the violent or at least “forceful” nature of robbery, even non-Christians recognize the wretched nature of thievery. The thought that one would perpetrate such wickedness against one’s parents – who sacrifice so much and provide so much for their children – is sickening and disgusting. For Christians, this should be unthinkable.
Perhaps we think that such crime against parents is rare. We might be surprised to find out that financial and even violent crimes against elderly parents are somewhat common. First, what might motivate a person to think that such crime is okay? Obviously, a deep sense of ingratitude and perhaps anger and vengeance over some real or perceived injury or injustice suffered in childhood. Laziness, selfishness, greed, a sense of entitlement, and personal failures [likely blamed on others, perhaps parents] move people to justify virtually any kind of wicked behavior. A perverted and corrupt mind might conclude that parents have no right to live “better” than their children, or that the inheritance is theirs anyway and that they can enjoy it better now than later [or even that they “need” it now], or that the elderly can’t really properly enjoy their accumulated wealth, or that they will squander away the inheritance on health care and nursing homes anyway, and then it will all be gone. One needn’t ponder too long over the support for “euthanasia” and “assisted suicide” – much of it is grounded in simple wretched greed. The devil is thrilled to destroy decency and sanity by implanting, nurturing, and inflaming such thoughts in people – and then watching the wretchedness and carnage that follows. Even within the church we must at times witness such wickedness from adult children.
The “conscience-less,” those who consider such behavior to be no sin or transgression, should be of deep concern to us. For once a person begins “justifying” sinful and wicked behavior – no matter how seemingly benign this may initially seem – they continue to grow in this craft and skill, and in the end are no longer able to discern how incredibly wicked and perverse their behavior becomes. It is possible to virtually erase and eradicate conscience, and we are well aware that there are people in the world like this. We call them “psychopaths” or “sociopaths.” Eventually they are caught and even unbelieving and unregenerate people are astonished at their wickedness. So there ought be no quarter given to those who engage in sin but say “it is no transgression,” even when we think the sin but small. We might be able understand how a person might come to adopt faulty and wretched reasoning, but we dare not justify it or accept their self-justification; to do so is to aid and abet a process that leads to greater darkness and wretchedness. Many have fallen from faith in this way, and into grotesque behavior, by initially justifying seemingly “harmless” sin, and growing adept at justifying even greater evils. We do no favors in being lenient, to the perpetrator or to his subsequent victims.
In that such “justifying” is a common aspect of our sinful nature, we are all called to great caution. The opposite of this is repentance, walking in integrity with God, walking in the light of His Word. There is forgiveness with God, in Jesus, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. The self-justifying reject this forgiveness and mercy from God, and are determined to take their chances by arguing their own case in front of Him. Deluded, they think that God will accept their rationale and agree with them. No one will ever succeed in this. Further, those who reject God’s love and His goodness will never come to know true goodness and love. May it never be so for us. In our “ministry” to others, we best serve them by stringently maintaining distinctions of right and wrong – as God’s Word instructs – and holding them accountable, calling them to repentance and to God’s mercy. Especially, the impenitent must be held accountable. Of course, they will never agree with us, and will oppose proper judgment vigorously, perhaps even violently. We must be prepared for this, even to suffer for this, and not allow it to deter or dissuade us from our duty, even when that duty must be carried out with our own children. [Matt. 10:37] The way of love is usually difficult and painful; real good is often not easy but tortuous. But when we consider the alternative – what we are aiding and abetting, we recognize that we really don’t have a choice – Christ’s love compels us.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, we do not like conflict or pain and suffering, and are eager to find ways to avoid confrontation and the pain that the self-justifying are willing to inflict upon anyone who stands in their way. Forgive us for such weakness and cowardice. We also suffer the same predilection to justifying our own evils. Forgive us for this, and prevent this. By the power of Your love compel us to greater honesty, to firmer faith in Your forgiveness and mercy, and to greater commitment to what is truly good and right. Also give us sufficient love and courage to make whatever difference we can in stemming the evils of this world, regardless of the personal cost. Remind us of what You endure to continue calling all people to repentance, faith, and salvation. Amen.