Compromise

"Micah said to him, 'Where do you come from?' And he said to him, 'I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to stay wherever I may find a place.' Micah then said to him, 'Dwell with me and be a father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, a suit of clothes, and your maintenance.' So the Levite went in. The Levite agreed to live with the man, and the young man became to him like one of his sons." -Judges 17.9-11

Back story, Micah stole silver from his mother, and upon returning if she decides to have part of it made into an idol, in the name of God. Micah takes the idol and makes a shrine for it, even setting one of his sons aside to serve as a priest. There is a Levite from Bethlehem that has decided to venture from home and see where he can make it. He arrives at the house of Micah and the two begin to converse about an arrangement. Micah invites the Levite to stay with him, all expenses paid as well as a salary, if he will serve as his personal priest. The Levite agrees, and goes to work leading a family in idol worship.

The job of the Levites was to serve as priests before God. They were to serve as the people's representatives in offering sacrifices to God. They were to point people to the objective truth that God had given. But this Levite allows himself to be bought off and leads a family in the worship of an idol because it pays the bills.

Men, we live in a world where compromise is easy. Everyday we face opportunities that test our integrity. Do we choose to focus on fulfilling our physical needs and desires, or do we stand up for what we know to be right?

Let us be men who refuse to compromise. Let us stand firmly for the truth no matter what it costs us. Let us point others to God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor