Don’t Rationalize Sin

Yesterday, we looked at Solomon’s life.    God had given him wisdom and power like few other potentates in history.  He had sponsored and directed scientific studies of numerous subject to improve life for the Jewish people, and written books such as Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon to help people teach their children how to have better lives.  Unfortunately, like many other brilliant men throughout history, he became proud, forgetting that it was God, rather than his own intelligence that had made him great, and ignoring the things he had learned and written.    In the process, he destroyed most of the legacy he could have left for future generations. 

Few people start out to deliberately mess up their lives, but are convinced that what they are doing is the best way.  Solomon himself wrote. “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes...” in Proverbs 21:2.  Undoubtedly, had you asked him about any of the things he did at the time, he would have told you that he was doing what was best for the country and for his heirs.  After all, the treaties with all the different governments represented by his different wives were for Israel’s protection.  The vast forces of chariots and horses represented a military force no one would dare tackle, and his vast wealth would make it easy to get more if he needed it.  Worshipping the gods of the people around them would surely demonstrate his tolerance of different beliefs and could be used to produce greater cooperation, possibly even leading other countries to adopt Judaism as well. 

Far too often we rationalize our own actions in the same way Solomon did.  A husband may rationalize working extreme hours by saying it will enable him to provide for his family better, or a wife may take time from her family to earn a college degree for the same reason.  A pastor may tell himself that the time he spends away from his church at conventions and other meetings makes him a better pastor and advances the cause of Christ, or that spending extra time on visitation and counselling is justified because it will lead to more people being saved. 

We forget that the last part of Proverbs 21:2 says, “… but the LORD pondereth the hearts,”   God looks at the underlying attitude, rather than our rationalizations.  He knows when the man works extra hours so he can afford a new motorcycle or the wife gets the degree so that can have more money for herself.  He knows how often the pastor goes to the meetings and conventions to enhance his reputation or to take a vacation from his church, or how often he uses visitation as an excuse for not spending time with his wife or children.   While such rationalizations sound justified, they are really no different that the drunk who goes to the bar because he needs to relieve his stress after a hard day. 

Clearly, Solomon’s actions did not benefit Israel.  During the first 25-30 years of his reign, Israel had had no wars at all.  During the last 10-15 years, they were constantly at war.  I Kings 11:14-39 describes the enemies that attacked and their reasons.  To pay for all his programs, Solomon raised his taxes so high that in I Kings 12:4 the people demanded that the taxes be cut if his son was to be selected as king.  Like modern politicians, his son decided his programs were more important the people’s desires, and caused the country to be divided.   Despite his rationalizations, Solomon’s actions made things worse for the people.  In much the same way, our rationalizations for sin lead to bigger problems.   Neglecting the family to earn extra income or get a college decree often leads to a collapse of the family.  The extra time spent in visitation or counselling may result in rebellion boy our own children.  The cost of hiring replacement speakers and attendance at conventions and meetings may strain church budgets and cause resentment. 

The various things Solomon did were things God had forbidden.   Initially, he loved the lord, as I Kings 3:3 tells us.  “And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.”  Unfortunately, as time passed, he became more concerned with his own goals and began to disobey God in more and more areas. 

John 14:23-24 tells us, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.   He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.”  As time passed, he became more focused on his own goals, Solomon’s love for the Lord decreased, and disobedience bothered him less.   He even attempted to have Jeroboam murdered to prevent God’s prophecy being fulfilled, in I Kings 11:40.

Unfortunately the same thing is happening in many churches today.   Christ warned the church about the danger iof changing our focus in Revelation 2:1-5.  “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. “

When we become focused on our own goals and don’t obey God, we risk ceasing to be a light to the world.    We need to understand that God’s commands are always for our own benefit, as he told Israel in Deuteronomy 12:28.  “Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.”