Bible Reading: Ezra 2. 1 Timothy 6:11-21
“And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name: these sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore where they, as polluted, put from the priesthood” – Ezra 2:61-62(KJV).
There are things people, including some Christians, even leaders do, thinking they do not matter but end up being their greatest undoing in life. Sometimes people, including believers compromise their Christian principles and values to get contract, appointment, admission, promotion or projects. These they do sometimes, for marriage or to evade suffering, maintain friendship or get some perceived favour.
Such compromise may appear harmless at first sight but could cost them so much at the long run. People forge results, certificates, documents, receipts, inflate prices, reduce age or tell lies to gain immediate advantage, but ultimately, they pay a high price for such compromise. Some things may appear harmless but they are certainly not right. For Esau, who compromised his birthright, he perceived it as being harmless but he wept bitterly with tears when it dawned on him that he has sold the right of first born and covenant blessing for a plate of food.
The worst is that some of the consequences of compromise are irreversible, leaving one with the painful outcome of such compromise.
Not only did the priest marry the Gileadites, they changed their names and took on the names of their in-laws, how often believers compromise their faith in marriage or to get favour. Some convert to Islam for job, contract, financial assistance, marriage or even marry unbelievers for money, status or position. All these are misplacement of values. On the day of reckoning, the names of the priest were not found in the register so they were put out of priesthood until their case is cleared.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to place character above compromise in Jesus name.
Rev. Vincent Diolu