Some time ago, we noticed that water persistently dripped from the shower in one of our bathrooms after we turned off the shower. Initially, it was a minor issue, just a subtle tip-tap, and so we chose to overlook it.
However, as time passed, there was now a running flow from the tip tap, so I decided to check it out. I discovered a tiny cut on the rubber tubing within the shower hose.
Wanting to exercise my DIY skills, I reached for a roll of sellotape and attempted a quick fix. When I turned it back on to see if it worked, the tape got wet and fell off.
Then, I got a cling film and tried to patch it up, but this solution only hindered the water flow.
Frustrated, I abandoned the repair attempt and forgot all about it.
And then, One day, the whole showering system suddenly collapsed without warning, and there was water everywhere…
And as I stood there in shock, I wondered what happened?
I didn’t realize then that the tiny cut I had tried to mend had been silently undermining the entire shower system.
It started small enough–just a tiny cut but the lack of attention it received ultimately led to this major breakdown.
The lack of fear of God is like that. It is progressive in nature.
One seemingly minor compromise,
One: “It doesn’t really matter.”
One “let’s just go with the flow this one time.”
Gradually, the fear of the Lord wanes even for the most well-meaning of us.
How can something small lead to such extensive damage?
How can a good person turn so bad?
How can this small sinful thought lead to these hideous acts?
These are the questions I ask myself each time I read David’s story.
In fact, 2 Samuel 11 is a chapter in the Bible that terrifies me.
David’s story serves as a sobering reminder of how even the most devout can fall into sin.
His lack of fear for the Lord allowed him to succumb to temptation progressively. From idleness to indulgence, his downward spiral culminated in adultery and murder. It’s a stark reminder that no one is immune to the subtle erosion of reverence for God.
When Godly men like David lose their fear of God, we tend to think it happened suddenly, without warning. But it does not work that way. Nobody wakes up one morning and says, “You see this God; I will no longer fear Him.”
The lack of fear of God begins with tiny things, little attitudes, and little habits. Yet if you don’t crucify them—if you don’t deal with them—gradually, they begin to blur your moral judgment and further lead to greater consequences.
David’s decision to remain idle while his men went to battle was a pivotal moment that set off a chain of events. His complacency and entitlement paved the way for temptation to take root. Just as idle hands are problematic, idle hearts are vulnerable to sin’s allure. We must remain vigilant, guarding against the gradual decline of our fear of God.
Like my shower system with a tiny cut, unchecked complacency can lead to irreparable damage in our lives and relationships.
However, Despite David’s grave mistakes, he experienced God’s mercy.
Likewise, if we confess and repent of our actions, we can find grace in God’s forgiveness and redemption.
So, In a world filled with distractions and temptations, we must remain vigilant. Satan prowls like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Let us not make his job easier by indulging in idleness or complacency. Instead, let us walk in the Spirit, guarding our hearts and minds against sin’s enticements.
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