John 12:6 Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.
I was talking with my friend Carolyn and lamenting that I had quoted in some of my books ministers who, at the time, were in right standing with Christendom but had since fallen terribly through moral failure. I said, “That’s it, I’m not quoting living Christians anymore, as they seem to get caught up at the peak of their heights of popularity, and then they fall dreadfully.” Carolyn said, “They seem to get sloppy with sin and think they are above God’s expectations.” There it was in the words, “Sloppy with sin.” There seems to be a lax view of sin in some of these ministry leaders’ lives. They forgot that they are only human and were susceptible to the temptations of the devil, and ended up falling miserably.
This is what happened to Judas. Even in the presence of Jesus, walking and talking with Him daily, Judas still got sloppy with sin. Those who were walking with Judas knew what he was secretly doing. John 12:6 Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it. Judas had in his heart, vitiated his relationship with Jesus by simply becoming sloppy with sin. From outright theft of the ministry’s money to the betrayal of his rabbi for thirty pieces of silver, Judas had become sloppy in his heart towards God Almighty. Matt. 26:15 ‘What are ye willing to give me, and I will deliver Him up to you?’ and they weighed out to him thirty silverlings. 16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Him. The result of this carelessness of character caused Judas to commit suicide when the enormity of what he had done finally reached his soul.
Christians tend to forget that the wages of sin are still death. This is why we need to confess our sins to Jesus and repent, so that we do not get sloppy in our hearts. James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. We have seen this carelessness in people’s lives over the years, and we may even recall being sloppy in our attitude towards God. Like Judas, who slipped here and there, some in the church let things go off track, and before they know it, they are a trainwreck in need of rescuing and prayers of deliverance. It’s the little things that pile up and cause eventual damage to our hearts. Song 2:15 Catch for us the foxes—the little foxes that ruin the vineyards—for our vineyards are in bloom.
I used to work with a guy; no matter what he did, he was always dishevelled and sloppy. A stitch of yarn from his sweater would be flopping off the sleeve. In a family portrait, his shirttail was untucked, and his tie was askew, forever noticeable to anyone looking at the photo. Not that anyone was looking for a mistake or trying to find anything wrong in this man’s life, but his suits, no matter how new they were, always had a fresh stain that could not be missed. He would come into a meeting, and one corner of his shirt collar would be turned into his neck. He was not a poor man, but could not escape the sloppiness that stuck to him like the Peanuts’ character Pig-Pen. I’m not judging his soul; however, it seemed like he lacked judgment in the way he presented himself, and his slovenliness was on full display. Prov. 24:30 I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment. 31 And behold, thorns had come up all over it; its face was covered with nettles, and the wall of its stones was torn down.
This is what I see when we get sloppy with sin, and we move along throughout the day, not noticing all the little effects that sin is having on our lives. In a short time, there is a dark cloud of rubbish floating over our lives as we wonder where the bright light of the day has gone. We then find ourselves asking, “What is going on in my life? Why can’t I hear God? Why don’t I feel like praying? Does God even love me anymore?” The question we need to ask ourselves is the one that counts and reaches the core of the issue. Have I gotten sloppy with sin and allowed a sluggish attitude towards the Lordship of God who reigns in my heart? Have I lost my first love for God? Rev. 2:4 But I have against you that you abandoned your first love.
We read throughout the Bible of those who once walked closely with God, then got careless with their relationship, and then fell flat on their faces and rejected God. Once the sloppiness has become part of the people’s character, self-justification becomes the way of life. Mal. 2:17 You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?” By saying, “All who do evil are good in the sight of the LORD, and in them He delights,” or, “Where is the God of justice?” If you feel the God of justice is just outside of your reach, then repent and draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you. It might be time to tuck in your spiritual shirttail and present yourself before God in the righteousness that Christ gave through His sacrifice. Yes, that would be a good place to start.
Thank you for bringing the common sense and the truth-always. May we hear it and apply it.
It is time to lint roll the sin out of my life. This word struck me. Thank you and Amen
I like the analogy of a lint roller being used by the Lord to get all the stuff sticking to my heart. Blessings to you, Miss Emily.
Good word Sir Norm! The Psalmist, David, is who God impressed on my heart…
When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone (Psalm 32:3-5)
Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord (Acts 3:19)
Thank you, Jesus, for meeting us in the mess of our own making; for making us clean in the sloppiness of our sin, and refreshing our souls with living water!
Love the word and how to apply it, Thank you I pray He will never let me go Our just and righteous Lord All glory to Him.
Yes, may we remain the apple of His eye.