Small Choices, Big Consequences

I faced a moral conundrum while standing in front of the pop machine at work the other day.

Now, I know there may be some health purists who would argue that the act of standing in front of a pop machine is evidence of moral failing, in and of itself. Let's set that issue aside for the moment.

This particular pop machine has one quirky, some would say delightful, feature.  Upon depositing your money and pressing the button, the drink you selected will be delivered. However, if you quickly follow your first press with a second, there's about a 50% chance you'll be rewarded with a second drink, gratis.

Throughout the day, my fellow employees make their way to the break room with the same anticipation one would display entering a Vegas casino.  It's not uncommon to hear exclamations of "SWEEET!!" and "BONUS!!" emanating from behind the break room door.

While this machine offers a little excitement and diversion during an otherwise hum drum work day, for me, it presents a spiritual dilemma. It's that dilemma I found myself contemplating as I stood before it with my finger on the button. Would  pressing it a second time, with full knowledge of what might occur, constitute a clear breaking of the command not to steal? Or, is fretting about such minor matters really being too trivial...even Pharisaical?

I believe a reading of James 2:10 provides the answer, "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point,he is guilty of all."

There are a multitude of small moral choices that you and I make every day of our lives.  If we really stop to consider how often we fail in these small moral choices, I think we'd be overwhelmed with the degree of our shortcomings. We are all "guilty of all" aren't we? Hence the need for a Savior.

We typically associate the defining moments that shape our character with life's large trials and obstacles-- a financial crisis, the onset of illness, or a disability. What I believe this passage in James 2 tells us is that its the little choices we make, each and every day, that either help or hurt our ability to meet and overcome the bigger challenges and trials we face.

That's really the lesson of so many of the moral failings we read of in God's Word, isn't it?

Eve wouldn't have eaten the apple had she not wandered too close to the tree.
Esau may not have sold his birthright had he not given in to the grumbling in his stomach.
David wouldn't have killed Uriah had he not dwelt too long on the balcony.

Sadly, none of these examples crossed my mind as I stood in front of our break room "slot machine" that afternoon. If they had, perhaps I wouldn't have so quickly pushed the button a second time. If you had been in my office at that moment, you would have been witness to the resounding testimony of my moral failing emanating through the break room door....."SWEEEET!!".

But then, suddenly stricken with the sinfulness of my action, I was faced with yet another vexing spiritual dilemma. Should I now enjoy the spoils of my ill gotten gain or donate it to someone else?  But oh.....how cold and refreshing that drink looked there in my hand....

Arrrgh...O wretched man that I am!

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