“Our Sin Affects More Than One” - 2/7/25
One of the ways that people justify sin is by saying, “No one will ever know.” Some say, “No one will ever get hurt.” Some think no one will be affected by a sin except for them. I have heard people say, “What if I decide to go get drunk (get high) in the woods by myself? I would hurt no one but myself, then.” Of course, none of those excuses are valid. This is selfishness gone to seed! We must remember that our actions, even in solitude, have a ripple effect on the lives of others.
Selfishness is at the heart of every sin. Think about it – “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed,” is what James said in James 1:14. When man yields to the temptations of the lusts of the flesh and eyes or pride of life (I Jn. 2:15-17), then sin occurs. Notice, he sinned because he wanted to do it – selfishness! I sinned because I wanted to! I care about no one else’s feelings or thoughts. I am going to do what I want to do!
Why did Jonah get on the ship going to Tarshish? It is because he wanted to do it! He wanted to run away, and his selfish attitude would ensure he got as far away from Nineveh as possible. At this point, Jonah cared for no one else’s feelings, thoughts, or wishes. He was leaving town, and that was it – selfishness!
The Bible tells us that when Jonah boarded the ship, the “mighty tempest” arose soon after (Jonah 1:4). In an attempt to keep the boat afloat, the mariners threw the freight off of the ship (v. 5). This is a passage that might get passed over as we read, but slow down and think about this. There were people in Spain who had ordered things from the Middle East. They had paid good money for them and expected their goods to be delivered, but now those items were at the bottom of the Mediterranean!
Those items were lost because of Jonah’s sin! Can we see how selfishness blinds us? Can we see how sin affects more than just one person? When Jonah boarded that ship, we know he was already sinning because his refusal to preach to the Ninevites affected precious souls there. At the same time, can we imagine him thinking, “Oh boy! I’ll get on this ship and really mess up the lives of these sailors and also mess up people’s lives in Tarshish!” I am sure those people were never in his mind. That is the way of selfishness! Yet, his sin affected others, including complete strangers he would never meet in Nineveh, Tarshish, and points in between!
Friends, never forget that our sins affect other people directly and indirectly! Our sins affect family members who love us (e.g., the Father of the Prodigal, Lk. 15:11-32; Prov. 10:1, 17:21, 25, 29:3), those we sin against (Matt. 5:23-24, 18:15, 21), our souls (Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 6:23), and, depending on what we have done, the lives of strangers (like Jonah did). In addition to all of this, our sins affect Heaven itself (Lk. 15:18, 21; I Cor. 8:12)! When we consider what Christ did in coming to this earth and suffering on the cross (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8; Jn. 18:36-37), we know our sins have caused this. Beginning at Eden (Gen. 3:15) and continuing until this good day, our sins affect Heaven itself!
Jonah hurt many people with his sin. That’s the nature of sin. In like manner, our sins hurt many. Why do we keep sinning? We do so because of selfishness! Let us make the determined effort to fight selfishness in our lives and be mindful of the lives and souls of others while we live on earth (Phil. 2:4; Gal. 6:2). What a difference that decision would have made in Jonah’s life and countless others affected by his decision! Who knows what good can be done when we have the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5) and put others before ourselves?
– Jarrod M. Jacobs