Several times in my life I have just had to have something and couldn't wait. You've been there, right? Perhaps it was a new video game, the latest apple device or technology. When you just have to have to have something you'll do anything to justify it's expense. Often, that new gadget, piece of furniture or clothing item or jewelry, gets put on a credit card because we just have to have it right now. And many times, while we're still paying the credit card company for that item we just couldn't live without something new and improved catches our eye. Then what we have doesn't seem so great anymore.
I wonder if this could be sin for me? The Bible say that I am to be content and also that I shouldn't be in debt. But I show a lack of contentment and a disregard for God by actively purchasing things on credit that I know I can't afford right now. In the end, that item that I just had to get becomes something that I hate because I end up paying for something long after it's newness and technology becomes outdated.
In the 2 Samuel passage for today you will read the story of Amnon and Tamar. Amnon, one of King David's sons, was in love with Tamar. He was so in love with her that it made him ill. One of his friends, one of those "friends" that probably often got him in trouble and was a bad influence, helped him devise a plan to be alone with Tamar. The plan went like this:
- Pretend to be sick to gain the sympathy of your father the King
- Tell the King you would feel better if Tamar came to your home and made you some food
- Tamar will come because she also has sympathy for you and wants to see you well.
- When the time is right send all your attendants away so you and Tamar are alone
- Do whatever you please.
And that is exactly what happened. Amnon lied to his father David. Deceived Tamar. Plotted to be alone with her and then raped her.
Tamar tried to get Amnon to stop and even told him that if he just asked his father, David, he would give Tamar to him as his wife. But Amnon didn't want to wait that long.
Amnon had four opportunities to get out of the sin he had planned to commit. Once the plan was in place he could have simply not followed through with it. He could have recognized his friends poor advice and left it alone. Even after lying to the King he had the opportunity to simply eat the food Tamar had prepared and send her away without committing sin. He could have chosen not to send away all his attendants so that he would not have been alone with her and therefore had not opportunity to violate her. And once he had her alone he could have taken her good advice and asked his father for her hand so that he would not have committed sin.
But he refused all four opportunities. He carried out his evil plot and his sin was established. But once he had taken what he wanted the text says that he actually, "hated her more than he had loved her" and had her sent away. Which she again tried to talk him out of saying that this sin would be worst than the first. But he would not listen.
Sin is like this, it builds on itself a little at a time until it is complete. And with every step closer to the sin it becomes harder to walk away from. In the end we are paying for something that we no longer want. Discipline from God is best avoided on the front end.
The Bible says that you will not be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted to sin God will always provide a way to stand up under it so you do not sin. Amnon had multiple chances to stand up and avoid his sin, but with every step he took he became more mired in his own lust and depravity.
Stop listening to those who would give you poor advice or actually provide you with ways to sin. When God presents you with an out, take it. Even to the moment you are ready to sin God is still offering you the chance to stop, you only go too far when you've actually committed the sin, stop it before it gets there. But better yet, never plot evil and you will be much better off.
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