It Is Still Sin

It Is Still Sin (James 4:17)

James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

The life of King Saul provides a case study in rationalization. One of his first acts as king of Israel was to disobey a Word from God, then try to justify his actions. In I Samuel 13, we find the Philistines prepared and ready to attack Israel's army. Saul had been instructed to wait for the prophet Samuel to arrive and present offerings to God. But Samuel was late, and the frightened troops were beginning to scatter. Saul took things into his own hands and presented the offerings himself.

The best way to fight rationalization is to call it what it is: sin. When God tells us to do something and we don't do it, it's disobedience. When God tells us not to do something and we do it, it’s disobedience. But rationalization is nothing to take lightly. Making excuses for sin gives it a foothold in our lives. And sin hurts. It hurts the people we sin against. It erodes our witness to the world and damages our relationship with God. If we continue to rationalize our disobedience, our hearts will harden. The Holy Spirit's voice in our lives will grow increasingly faint every time we block it out.

People of integrity call sin, sin. They don't blame their actions on others or on circumstances. When they sin, they admit what they did was wrong, confess, and repent. When God asks them to do something, it becomes priority one. We need to continually hold our lives before God, asking Him to bring to mind any commands we've ignored and any sins we're excusing. Then our consciences and our lives can be clean and pure. Only then can we fulfill our calling to be lights in a world of darkness.

Here are some common excuses for disobedience, and why they will never fool the Father.

1. Excuses For Not Doing What God Tells You To Do.

Excuse #1 "I'll Do It Later."
When God prompts you to do it now: tell a friend about Him, deal with a persistent sin, send an encouraging note, spend time with Him. Telling Him "later" is the same as saying no. "Later" may be too late for the good that God intended when He urged you to act.

Excuse #2 "It's Too Difficult—I Would Fail."
Jeremiah tried this one. When God told him He was calling him as a prophet, Jeremiah replied in Jeremiah 1:6, “Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child”. God's response to Jeremiah is His response to us: "Don't make excuses; just obey. Don't be afraid, because I will be with you in everything I ask you to do."

Excuse #3 "I'm Too Busy Doing Important Things."
What can be more important than what God is instructing you to do? Claiming, "I'm too busy" is putting your agenda ahead of God's.

2. Excuses For Doing What God Says Not To Do.
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Excuse #4 "It Won't Hurt Anything."
God told the Israelites that His commands in Deuteronomy 10:13, “…which I command thee this day for thy good?” Only He knows the chain of results that our disobedience will set in motion. We need to trust His judgment, not our own.

Excuse #5 "No One Will Find Out."
God will know. Every sin hinders our fellowship with Him and our own conscience
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Excuse #6 "I'll Do It Just This Once."
God never said sin was OK if you only do it once. Besides, submitting to the flesh rather than to the Spirit strengthens the wrong forces in your life, making it more likely that you will do it again.

Excuse #7 "God Let Me Down."
When we're disappointed with our lives, we can begin to think, God didn't come through for me, so why should I come through for Him? We may stop doing the things we know He wants us to do, and not worry too much about breaking His commandments. God says in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”. He will always remain faithful to us (II Timothy 2:13), and His plan for us is for our good (Jeremiah 29:11). We need to acknowledge that our perspective is limited and that our painful circumstances and unanswered prayers are part of a larger, grander plan. Learning to trust His Word when it contradicts our perceptions, feelings, and experiences can keep us from excusing our disobedience by blaming Him.

Excuse #8 "I Deserve A Break/Reward."
When we've been working hard on the job or in ministry, it can be tempting to justify taking something that's not rightfully ours, whether it's money, goods, or time that belongs to our employer but is spent on personal projects. We blow off something God prompts us to do because we've "paid our dues". In II Kings 5, the prophet Elisha's servant, Gehazi, figured he was entitled to a little reward for ministry. His master had turned down a gift from a wealthy warrior, but Gehazi returned behind Elisha's back and requested a few "perks" from the man. God struck Gehazi with leprosy. God never "rewards" obedience by allowing disobedience.

Excuse #9 "At Least I'm Not As Bad As _____."
Sometimes we try to make ourselves feel better about our sin by comparing it to someone else's. "I may flirt with my secretary, but at least I'm not sleeping with her." "I may “fudge” a little on my taxes, but I would never embezzle money." Jesus told the story of a Pharisee who compared himself to others. The religious man prayed in Luke 18:9, “I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” Yet, Jesus commended instead the tax collector who prayed in Luke 18:13, “God be merciful to me a sinner”. Repentance is the only attitude toward sin that God accepts.

Excuse #10 "Everyone Else Is Doing It."
It's tempting to violate our consciences, to give in a little on our convictions, when we see others doing things we feel uneasy about. It's especially tempting when "others" are believers we respect. Yet what is right and wrong is never determined by popular vote. I Corinthians 4:4, “…but he that judgeth me is the Lord.” We must listen to the Holy Spirit Who tells us what is right and wrong, not the outer ones.

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