Focus on the Word Big Sins and Little Sins


by Harvey E. Schultz


“What’s the difference between a venal sin and a mortal sin?” Te question was totally unexpected. I was about to launch


into a theological answer which, I hoped, would enable the lady who asked the question to understand that the human concept of grades of sin did not correspond with God’s estimation of sin. But at that point one of the men in our Bible study group interrupted and asked permission to answer the question. He turned to the lady and asked her: “In your estimation, is


disobedience a big sin or a little sin?” “Oh,” she said, “I think I would say a little sin.” “Well” he said, “look at the mess humanity is in because of just


one disobedience.” What a beautiful answer, I thought to myself. In the Garden


of Eden, one disobedience really did mess up all of creation. His answer was theologically accurate and appropriate. Scripture leaves no doubt about the seriousness of disobedi-


ence. King Saul, for example, lost the kingdom because of disobe- dience. At two important junctions in his life, he did not obey God’s clear instructions (see 1 Sam. 13:7b-14; 15:1-35). Te king of Israel was never to encroach upon the realm of


the priest. Saul violated that divine instruction due to his anxiety in the face of a growing danger. He justified his disobedience by saying that Samuel’s delay in arriving made the situation untenable and “I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering” (1 Sam. 13:12 NIV). In the second instance he was instructed by God to attack and destroy the Amalekites and everything that belonged to them. But he did not obey completely because he spared the king’s life and kept all the best of their flocks and herds. He justified his dis- obedience by saying that the soldiers “spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God” (1 Sam 15:15 NIV). In each case, he was unwilling to admit to having done anything wrong or to take responsibility for his disobedience. But the prophet Samuel put his finger on the core of the


problem and pointed out that Saul’s failure to obey was “rebellion” which grew out of his “arrogance.” Samuel then declared that dis- obedience was as grievous a sin as witchcraſt and idolatry. Wow! Witchcraſt and idolatry! Don’t we oſten, like King Saul, justify our disobedience? We


know what God wants us to do, but for some reason, we don’t want to do it. We might be unwilling to trust God in a difficult situation. We may think obedience will deny us of some perceived personal advantage. Or it may simply be the fact that we want our own way. God expects our obedience. Obedience in the face of difficult or


dangerous situations is the mark of deep personal trust in our Lord. We trust him to watch over us even though obedience seems to be counter-productive. We trust him to protect us even if


obedience might create a threat to our well-being. Such obedience demonstrates our humility and submission to our Father’s will. In the Garden of Eden, Eve


disobeyed because it seemed to her that God had denied her something which, apparently, was for her good. Saul disobeyed because the imminent Philistine attack was a menace to his king- ship. He later disobeyed because keeping the plunder from his raid against the Amalekites was of great material advantage to him. It is not hard to understand


that obedience without a deep personal trust in our heavenly Father is virtually impossible. Obedience is the very mark of a disciple. Christ leaves his final instructions with his followers. “Make disciples … teaching them to obey every- thing I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV). By definition, a disciple is one who obeys the instructions of his master. He does what his master asks him to so. For believers, obedience is not optional; it is intrinsic. A disobedient disciple is an


oxymoron: obedience demon- strates that we are indeed follow- ers of Jesus Christ. It demon- strates that we trust God’s love and wisdom. It demonstrates that we believe that his instruc- tions are for our good and for his glory, even if we don’t under- stand how at that moment. So don’t try to grade sins as big sins and little sins. Instead, determine to obey God.


Fellowship Focus, September/October 2016 7


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