Sin Loves Company

By:  Donna Martin

We have all heard the old adage, “Sin loves company.”  This has been true since the day sin came into the world.  Satan compelled Eve to sin.  He pointed out how beneficial the forbidden fruit would be for her.  He told her the opposite of what God told her, and she believed him.  When she drew closer to the forbidden fruit she saw that it appeared to be “good for food, and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom.”  (Genesis 3:6 NIV)  Satan wanted her to be a part of sin.  Then again sin wanted company as Eve persuaded Adam to join her in her sin.  But as we know from the rest of the story, sin was not as beautiful and desirable as it appeared.  Because sin loves company the sin of Adam and Eve has affected the world since that fateful day in the Garden of Eden.

Still today sin loves company.  The world is full of temptations and people who want to convince us that sin is not sin and that we are somehow ignorant bigots if we do not embrace sin and participate in sin with the world.  And so at times we give in to sin.  We accept sin, we overlook sin.  We let sin creep into our lives a little at a time and before we know it our lives look no different from the lives of those who do not know Jesus.  It is just easier to blend in, to give up, and to go along with the way of the world.

As Christians we need to guard against sin in our personal lives and in our marriages.  Now today more than ever Christian couples must be committed to building strong marriages where Christ is the head of the home.  We must be committed to working together through difficult times.  We must not give up and give in, but look to Jesus to guide us to build a relationship with our spouse that glorifies Him.  We must give our children the gift of a home where love abounds and where parents love and obey Christ in all that they do.  We must dare to be different from the world and instead of blending in, be a light that shines in the darkness.

Jesus gave the disciples this message in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.”  So just like those early disciples there are times when Christians today will be hated by the world.  Thankfully Jesus gave the disciples and us hope in John 16:33 when He said, “In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

Living a sinless life is impossible.  Jesus was the only person who lived on this earth that was ever able to do that.  1 John 1:8-9 tells us, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

The Martins currently present “Happy Together” Marriage Enrichment Events for churches and organizations.  To schedule an event call Michael at 940-735-1515. They are certified “Prepare/Enrich” Facilitators and are available to work with couples on an individual basis using the “Prepare/Enrich Assessment.”  They publish a weekly “Happy Together” Blog about family and marriage issues.  You can order copies of their new books Dancing With Death and 366 Tidbits We Have Learned in 14,610 Days of Marriage, read, and subscribe to their “Happy Together” Blog by logging onto the Martin’s website at www.happytogethermarriages.com.