We live in a compromised world. Consequences of those who compromised we see in the Bible. Compromise is often seen as finding a middle ground or negotiating a solution.
Have you ever wondered how compromise is portrayed in the Bible?
What valuable life lessons can we learn from these stories? 10 examples of compromise and consequences of the compromise in the Bible are –
*Adam compromised God’s law, followed his wife’s sin, and lost paradise (Gen. 3:6, 22, 23, 24).
• Abraham compromised the truth, lied about Sarah’s relationship to him, and nearly lost his wife (Ge 12:10, 11, 12).
• Sarah compromised God’s Word and sent Abraham to Hagar, who bore Ishmael and destroyed peace in the Middle East (Ge 16:1-12).
• Moses compromised God’s command and lost the privilege of entering the Promised Land (Nu 20:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12).
• Samson compromised his devotion as a Nazirite and lost his strength, his eyesight, and his life (Jdg. 16:4-6, 16-31).
• Saul compromised God’s divine word by not slaying the animals of his enemy and lost his kingdom (1Sa 15:3, 20-28).
• David compromised God’s standard, committed adultery with Bathsheba, murdered Uriah, and lost his infant son (2Sa 11:1-4ff, 2Sa 12:7-14)
• Solomon compromised his convictions, married foreign wives, and lost the United Kingdom (1Ki 11:1-8).
• Judas compromised his supposed devotion for Christ for thirty pieces of silver and was separated from Christ eternally (Mt 26:20-25, 47, 48, 49; 27:1-5; cf. Jn 17:12).
• Ananias and Sapphira compromised their word about their giving, lied to the Holy Spirit, and lost their lives (Acts 5:1-11).
(taken from Biblical Wonders).
In the Bible, compromise can have many consequences, including:
• Withering faith: Compromise can undermine the faith of the person who compromises.
• Spiritual life: Compromise can lead to a withering of the spiritual life, where a person becomes more tolerant of things that should be offensive.
• Loss of God's blessings: Compromise can lead to the loss of God's blessings.
• Assisting the enemy: Compromise can assist the enemy.
• Dragging others down: Compromise can drag many others down.
• Heart turned away from God: Compromise can turn the heart away from God.
• True love for God becomes secondary: Compromise can make true love for God secondary.
The Bible makes it clear that God does not condone compromising His commands. For example, Deuteronomy 5:32 says, “Be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left”.
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In Daniel chapter 1, we see a young man who was going through difficult tribulations:
• Daniel’s home of Jerusalem had been overthrown, and he’d been carried off into a foreign and godless land as a slave of Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar.
• Daniel endured a “reeducation program” of sorts, meant to brainwash Daniel and the other young men to assimilate them into the Babylonian culture and prepare them to serve the king. He was taught astrology and magic, as well as Babylon’s Chaldean language.
• He was given a new name. No longer would he be called Daniel (God is my judge), but now he would be called Belteshazzar (Bel protect my life), a pagan name.
• Daniel was expected to eat the king’s meals, which were certainly lavish. This was an indulgence that many would have happily accepted.
New home, new education, new language, new name, new food. … All of these things were an attempt by the Babylonians and King Nebuchadnezzar to indoctrinate the young Israelites, including Daniel, into their culture. And I’m sure that many of them were more than happy to enjoy that kind of life.
Daniel could have gone along with all this by compromising his convictions as well. He could have said, “Everyone else is doing it,” or “I better obey the king!”
When we read the first chapter of the book of Daniel and verse 8 –
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore, he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”
11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. 16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore, they served before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.
Daniel is a biblical figure who is known for living an uncompromising life and remaining true to his beliefs. Daniel decided NOT to defile himself.
Some characteristics of an uncompromised life taken from Pastor Sam Thomas Kallada’s sermon outline.
1. Daniel had an unashamed boldness
2. Daniel had an uncommon standard -
3. Daniel had an unearthly protection- (his integrity and God’s control)
4. Daniel had an unhindered persistence -
5. Daniel had an unblemished faith -
6. Daniel had an unusual test - Chapter 1:12
7. Daniel had unmeasured blessings - 1:17 (understanding in all visions and dreams).
I pray that each one of us will remain true to our calling and not compromise something with people, so that we lose everything with God.
Shirley Chacko ,Arlington
