The Cost of Compromise

The Cost of Compromise

1 Kings 11:1-8

Modern society nurtures a popular misconception that Christians should relax their beliefs and adopt a more tolerant worldview. But we can see from the life of King Solomon that compromising the law of God is a destructive choice.

In the early years of his reign, Solomon was committed to doing right. But later, when he saw the opportunity to promote himself politically, he ignored the command forbidding marriage to pagans (1 Kings 3:1). The union may have seemed like an insignificant deviation, but Satan’s strategy is to convince us to compromise small portions of Scripture, one at a time.

Solomon admired beautiful women of other races, but instead of finding ways to avoid temptation, he first allowed himself one relationship and then sought more and more. Surrounded by foreigners, the king inevitably became involved in their religions. Eventually, he was ensnared by sin, and his heart turned from God.

Solomon’s temptations may differ from ours, but accepting compromise can trap us as well. Unchecked admiration for something beyond God’s will for our life can convince us to pursue it. Though we intellectually know this choice is wrong, we harden our hearts against the Spirit’s warnings. Our preoccupation can deepen until the desired object, person, or activity holds a place of greater priority than our Father. If we allow that to happen, we lose our freedom in Christ and become trapped in a prison of sin. In other words, the cost of compromise is the corruption of our souls.

Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries