ARE YOU COMPROMISING YOUR SOUL?
Many, upon being asked such a question will often seek to justify the way they live rather than admit they have compromised. A definition of the word compromise is: “to make a concession”. Another is: “to accept standards that are lower than desired”. When one compromises their soul, they have indeed made a concession. They are accepting standards of the world, and these are much lower than those set by God in His Holy Word.
One point that must be made is that God does not compromise. His Word has not ever, now will ever change. Psalm 119:89 is where the Spirit had the psalmist assure us of this. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. We can also see in Joshua 1:5 that as God did not abandon Moses, neither would He leave this new leader of Israel. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. God has also never compromised on His plan for His Son to come through Abraham’s lineage, then to die on the cross and be resurrected, offering Salvation for all men. Even when many of Israel compromised and followed their own desires and served other gods, there was still a remnant that believed God’s Word and looked for the Promised Messiah. Some disciples followed the Christ when He came, and some were chosen to be His apostles.
The Spirit had the penman of the Hebrew letter inform the Christians of the Jewish nation of the same thing in Hebrews 13:5. This also tells us how we are to live our lives. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Then in verse 6, these same brethren were told that not even fear of what man might do unto them was to cause them to make compromises. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. The Spirit was encouraging them to not compromise their souls in any way.
How are some Christians compromising today? Any, and every time the Word of God is ignored by those who have become children of God, through obedience to the gospel, they have compromised their soul. When the time to bring our offerings come and if we “stingily” give, or offer a pittance out of perceived necessity, we are compromising our souls. The Spirit had Paul address this in 2Corinthians 9:6-7 so those brethren would not compromise. This applies to Christians today as well. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Some of the Hebrew Christians that were being enticed to return to the Law of Moses were compromising their souls by forsaking the assembly. In Hebrews 10:25 they were being told not to compromise, but to encourage one another. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Some Christians today are putting their souls in jeopardy as they forsake the assembly and “sin willfully” because of fear or for any other reason.
Rather, in Romans 12:2 as the Spirit had the apostle Paul inform the brethren at Rome, all Christians are to avoid compromise in their lives in the same manner. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. To “conform” is to comply with rules, standards, or laws. In this case, the rules, standards and laws are those of this world. To be “transformed” is to make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of. Psalm 19:7 is one place we see how God’s Word “transforms”. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The Word of God makes wise he who hears or reads the Bible today and learns the true value of their soul. They will believe and obey the gospel.
Because some had obeyed the gospel, they knew what the Spirit had Peter write in 1Peter 1:18-19 to the scattered Christians. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Therefore, they strove to avoid compromise. This is also one reason Christian’s today are to never compromise.
James 1:25 tells how this was accomplished by the early Christians, and how it can be achieved even today. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Notice this message instructs: (1) Look into God’s Word. (2) Continue in His Word. (3) Do what the Word says to do. (4) Receive blessings in this life and eternally. One who understands this also realizes one of the benefits a child of God receives as a result is the strength needed to not compromise.
Don’t compromise your soul. If you haven’t obeyed the gospel, look into God’s Word to see how to do so. Then never compromise. If you are a child of God, don’t compromise. Your soul’s eternal destination is at stake.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
