Cheat Big

Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father . . .” 2 Samuel 16:21

A couple months ago, we had an open house at which there was a lot of food, most of which contained loads of sugar. There were a few reasonably healthy options though and so, I decided I was going to eat healthy. When they cut the cake however, I rewarded myself with a small sliver. I love butter cream frosting – almost as much as I love donuts – and so, I found that I simply couldn’t stop at one small piece. Once I had one little taste, I wanted more. Soon I found myself eating an entire plate of pure frosting, as if I were six years old again. It was delicious, but after, I was disgusted with myself, realizing I’d eaten 2,000-plus calories of fat and sugar. What went wrong? I planned to eat healthy. The problem was that I opened the door to a little frosting. While it was closed, I was safe. Once I cheated a little though, I was going to cheat big.

Though it didn’t involve frosting or cake, Absalom illustrated this phenomenon in today’s passage. As his insurrection against his father developed, there were probably opportunities to turn back. When King David fled Jerusalem though, Absalom moved into the palace, assuming the place of the king. Then, one of Abasalom’s advisors recommended that, just in case there was any question, Absalom should take David’s women as his own. Maybe there had previously been some chance of reconciliation, but involving himself sexually with David’s concubines was an unmistakable declaration that Absalom now considered himself king. If he was going to revolt, Absalom was going to go all the way.

Most of us have experienced a similar cheat-big phenomenon. We don’t set out to eat the whole bag of chips. I’ll just have one. Once we indulge a little though, a little more is far easier. It is, of course, the same way with sin. Once we tolerate a little sin, a little more is far easier. No one sets out to destroy their lives with drugs, pornography, or infidelity. We get there however, one little indulgence at a time. Little indiscretions don’t stay little forever. We either cut them out of our lives, or they grow and metastasize. This is why the little things matter. If we desire to experience the life God intends for us, then daily, we must recognize and abandon those things that distract us from him, no matter how little or insignificant we may think they may be.