For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.    Romans 8:7-8 HCSB

Indulge means to allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of something. From time to time I indulge in a hot fudge sundae. It’s not good for me, but it tastes good. Indulge can also mean to become involved in a particular activity, usually one that is disapproved. It can also mean to satisfy or yield freely to a particular desire or interest. From time to time I’m sure we all indulge in something that would be better left alone. Aside from the taste, I can think of no good excuse to indulge in a hot fudge sundae.

If we were multi-millionaires, indulge would take on a whole new meaning. We may be indulging in luxuries like private jets, yachts, or custom homes in various desirable locations. Often times we hear of the rich and famous indulging in illegal activities. The Bible talks about this in 1 Timothy 6:10 which tells us that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

This is why people say things like, “It’s lonely at the top”. It’s easy to see how money can get us into trouble, if we are not careful. But even the poorest among us can find himself in a jam if he indulges in fleshly desires. You see we like to think we can indulge in a little sin here and there. But, my friend, there is no such thing.

There is no such thing as a little sin. Sin cannot be categorized because sin is sin. Telling a lie is just as much a sin as committing murder. But, it is also difficult to have a little sin because indulging in a little leads us to a lot. Think of it this way, say you have been eating healthy for a couple weeks and are seeing great results. Will one hot fudge sundae hurt? Probably not, but the problem is that once your body gets that sugar, you just want more. So while you had begun to condition your body to live without sugar, now it wants sugar.

Sin is the same way. You often hear it said that sin will take you farther than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay and charge you more than you wanted to pay. I may say that I am just going to have one hot fudge sundae, but this could start my healthy eating plan on a downward spiral. Many people like to say that it’s okay to indulge in alcohol because the Bible doesn’t say we can’t drink, it just says that we can’t get drunk. Have you ever gone out with friends intending to have one or two drinks but had four or five before the night was over?

We often justify our sin by saying that it doesn’t hurt anyone and we think no one will ever know. But, the Bible begs to differ. In Numbers, Moses is trying to explain to the Israelites how to take possession of the Promised Land according to God’s instructions. In Numbers 32:23, Moses tells them, “But if you don’t do this, you will certainly sin against the LORD; be sure your sin will catch up with you.” We often times like to dismiss the Old Testament as a history lesson, but my friend the warnings for the Israelites, God’s chosen people, hold true for us today.

Our sin hurts us first and foremost because it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2). It provides a gateway for the devil to enter into our lives. We are told to submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from us (James 4:7). In John 8:34 Jesus told us that if we commit sin, we become slaves to sin.

Our sin separates us from God and causes Him not to hear us (Isaiah 59:2). Psalms 66:18 tells us if I had cherished iniquity in my heart, God would not have listened. Proverbs 28:13 tells us that whoever hides his sin will not prosper, but if we confess our sin and forsake it, God will give us mercy.

There is no such thing as a little sin or a little bit of sin. We all sin (Romans 3:23). But when we ask God to fill us with His Holy Spirit, we are convicted of our sin and can repent. When we allow the devil to enter in, he takes over. If you are indulging in sin, know not only will your sins be found out (Numbers 32:23), but if you are not careful they will take over. If you think you can handle it or you’ve got it under control, stop lying to yourself. Give it over to God before it’s too late.

Have a great day!