Acceptable But Not Advisable

Acceptable but Not Advisable

Sarah

Read: Genesis 16:4-5; 17:20

Catching a glimpse of the clock on her nightstand, Mary groaned. She had been looking forward to turning twenty-one and enjoying her special evening at the hottest bar in town, but she had forgotten the custom of drinking a toast with every sorority sister present. After a night of throwing up, she had missed her interview appointment. Mary knew that she wouldn’t get another shot at the internship. I missed my big chance, and all for the sake of a campus tradition, she thought as she ran to the bathroom.

Sarah’s decision to have Abraham sleep with her servant was perfectly acceptable according to the customs of that time. If Hagar had a male child and Abraham adopted him, he could become the legal son and heir. Since Sarah was barren and approaching eighty years old, it seemed obvious to her that God didn’t intend for the promised son to come from her. After so many years of waiting, perhaps she felt relieved that she had figured out a solution to their problem. Sarah soon learned that although the world considered her “solution” morally sound, God did not approve of it. The bitter consequences affected her and the history of two nations.

The fact that something is legal doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea. The world considers acceptable many things of which God doesn’t approve. Premarital sex, homosexuality, and abortion may be sanctioned by society, but they are not part of God’s plan for us. These choices can result in serious consequences that will plague us for the rest of our lives, much as Sarah’s decision affected her. When deciding on a course of action, it’s not enough to ask whether or not our choice is legal or acceptable in the world’s opinion; a far wiser decision is to make sure that it’s godly. If we allow God to guide our decisions, we can expect positive consequences, which can also have lasting effects.

You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you.

1 Corinthians 6:12