The Danger of Compromise

by | May 26, 2002 | compromise

Jennifer had been deep in thought for days. She was torn between a desire to serve God and getting a juicy job offer. The job was hers for the taking just as the HR manager had told her a few days ago. There was however a snag. “I like you very much” said the man who stood between her and a job she had spent many jobs pursuing. “How about we go out next weekend to celebrate your new job?” he said, eyes twinkling with a devilish wink.

“I am sorry, I can’t do that. I am a Christian!” Jennifer blurted out. Still smiling, he replied “Oh, don’t give me that crap. I’ve met a lot of your type before. You can leave now, when you are ready, you can give me a call. Have a nice day”.

“You can’t let this offer slip through your fingers!” exclaimed Jennifer’s friend, Teni. “There has to be a way out somehow. Why don’t you just go out with him with the understanding that nothing would happen between you two?” This sounded reasonable and quite tempting but Jennifer was still not sure. She could not forget the cunning look in the eyes of the HR manager when he asked her out.

Thankfully, Jennifer refused to take the bait. She lost the job offer but got another job a few weeks later. This job was not as lucrative as the one she missed out on but she had rest of mind. She shuddered to think of what could have happened if she had compromised her faith for the job. Apart from the guilt she would be carrying around, she would also have to live with the consequences of the act; unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and of course deeper consequences of abortion and infertility.

The devil is still using the same old bag of tricks against God’s people. We need to have an understanding of God’s word in order to fight against these tricks and overcome. Imagine what he told Eve, “Can it really be that God has said, You shall not eat from every tree of the garden?” (Gen 3:1) God had not said Adam and Eve could not eat of any tree in the garden, he was specific about which tree they could not eat from and Satan knew this. However for him to accomplish his aim, he had to start by twisting the truth.You and I know the consequences of that action till this day.

Today, we are faced with so many opportunities laced with compromise. The enemy knows that he cannot come headlong to try and coax you like he did Adam and Eve so what he does is to use people we love and respect. They tell us that “it does not matter”. We realize that it does matter when it is too late.

What is the antidote to compromise? The answer is simply, “doing it Jesus’ way”. Jesus’ way is using God’s word, straight, precise and unequivocal. “It is written…..” (Like 4: 1 – 13)

The power in the word which made the devil retreat from his offensive against Jesus, is very much alive and potent today. No matter how much color the enemy wraps around what he offers us, the word will always strip off the deceitful wrappings and reveal what is inside the package to us.

Steve Popoola

Steve Popoola is the editor of Biblepraise Newsletter. He was born in London but currently resides in Lagos, Nigeria with wife Maris and their children, Praise, Stephanie and Precious. He works in a bank as a Systems administrator . Formerly an active singer, he still sings occasionally and speaks at invited forums. He presently serves as the Head of Books/Library in his local church. He is the Moderator/Editor of Biblepraise Newsletter. He can be reached through His email address, steve@biblepraise.org

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