Subtle compromise – so you think you’re okay?

Doing okay

Have you ever thought of yourself as “okay” or “doing alright”? Have you ever told yourself “I’m doing better than most” or “I’m on the safe side”? We all have. There are dangers when we become comfortable with ourselves why? Because it is especially when compromise takes root in our hearts thoughts.

Jesus’ ministry lasted for three and a half years – that’s the whole time He used to change the world. And Judas Iscariot followed him all the way. But what happened? At the very last moment, Judas decided to choose a major decision contrary to everything he saw, heard and learned within those three and a half years of struggling along with Jesus in His ministry. So what happened?

Judas compromised

He might not have known it but he compromised every step of the way for those three years. He helped himself with the money put in the treasury (Judas was the treasurer of the ministry) and it might not be too big a deal since the ministry never once lacked money or something to eat (at least it was never mentioned in the Bible that they did) but that is called compromise – not wanting the best and settling for what’s good because of comfort and pleasure.

Judas travelled that thin line between right and wrong. Occasionally, he would trip and fall on the wrong side, helping himself with the treasury but oftentimes he would lean more on the “right” side, driving out demons in Jesus’ name, preaching the good news, helping out the poor. In his heart, he thought he was “okay” that he was “doing alright”.

For three and a half years

Judas thought he was really doing well! Will you stick to a person and do what you’re doing for three and a half years, suffering from no homage, from persecution, etc ., if you don’t really believe in what you’re doing and think you’re not “okay”? No! Judas definitely believed he was “okay”.

But he was walking the line all along

Compromise corrupts Decision

And at the end of those three and a half years, all of the little decisions that Judas compromised in affected his sense of judgment. And when crunch time came along and it was time to make the big decision, all of the little decisions he made summed up themselves in his choosing the big one. He chose to betray the Master. Out of all the reasons he could have chosen in the three and a half years he spent with the Messiah, still he chose to betray Jesus. Why?

Because compromise corrupts your ability to decide

If you are not faithful with the little things, you won’t be faithful with the big ones. This is exactly what we can see in the life of Judas. He wasn’t faithful in the little decisions he made, so when crunch time came along, he wasn’t faithful with the big ones too.

My challenge to you is

Re-evaluate yourself. Don’t stick to the thought that you’re “Okay”. I say this because even I have some things that I compromise with. But the Bible has made me aware of these things and is still doing so every day of my life. Think of all the little things you compromise in and decide now to pursue the best. God’s best for you in everything. Do not compromise. It will corrupt you.

Galatians 6: 7-8

“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”