Be Careful

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!  

1 Corinthians 10:12

Years ago when our children were small, my husband and I lived in a small southern town. We were actively involved in church. The pastor’s wife, “Alice”, was about my age and also had young children. We had much in common and became best friends.

As friends do, we told each other about good sales, shared recipes, and learned each other’s histories. We often prayed together. When we had problems, we were there for each other.

Time passed, and my husband was transferred. Eventually Alice and her husband took a pastorate in a northern state, and we lost touch.

Years later when our children were teenagers, I heard some disturbing news about my friend. She had met a man at work and left her family to be with him.

My heart broke for her. I wondered what in the world had happened. How could a good woman, a believer who regularly heard the Word of God, fall into such a situation?

Although I never thought Alice would do something so wrong, I shouldn’t have been surprised.  Scripture warns us that any Christian can be tempted---pastor’s wife, Sunday school teacher, church leader, you and I.

God knows our weaknesses. That’s why He told us in 1 Corinthians 10:12, So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

What causes an “involved” Christian to fall? According to 1 Corinthians 10:12, it’s the result of being careless and relaxing our guard.

We may relax our guard because we are active in ministry. We may relax because we’ve known Christ a long time. Whatever the reason, becoming complacent and forgetting to be careful makes us vulnerable to sin.

I’m sure Alice didn’t plan to fail God and hurt her family. She just got careless. The results were devastating.

Father, help us to guard our hearts by being sensitive to sin and obedient to You.

Carol