THE WORMS ARE BITING - A follow-on from my discussion on compromise.
By cloudwatcher
@cloudwatcher (6861)
Australia
October 23, 2009 5:09am CST
A workman on a construction crew, each morning as he drove to work, waved and spoke to a young boy at a fishing spot. One day, when he asked if the fish were biting, he received a strange reply: “The FISH aren’t biting, but the WORMS sure are!”
When he pulled in for petrol a little later, he jokingly told the attendant about the boy’s strange reply. The man laughed briefly, but suddenly a look of horror crossed his face and he dashed to his truck and raced off. He was the boy’s father. Sadly, he arrived too late: the boy was dead. Somehow, the boy had mistaken a nest of baby rattle snakes for worms. Unknown to many, baby rattle snakes are born with their full venom.
This is a sad but true story to illustrate a point. Things that so often SEEM harmless are full of poison.
What about the “white” lies? and the “little fibs”? And how many more do they lead to? Someone is usually hurt by them!
What about the little bit of “harmless” gossip we listen to and pass on? Gossip can be deadly. It can assassinate a person’s character.
What about the harsh words and temper tantrums we have and then ignore the hurt we have caused by them?
What about a little “harmless flirtation” which gets out of hand and leads to marital problems?
The list could go on and on and on.
OK I’m going to use Christian terms because I am a Christian and I believe the Bible to be the very Word of God, but whether or not you agree on the basis of my Christian belief, I am sure you will accept the logic of the above illustration I have given.
Nowhere in the Bible is sin categorised into big sins and little sins, or mortal sins and venial sins. In the Bible, sin is sin: full stop, period, end of story. Jesus classed being angry with someone as equivalent to murder. He classed a lustful look as equivalent to adultery.
Just as the “worms” in this sad illustration were biting, so will sin and sin will reap its rewards. I can already hear some say that they like the rewards brought by sin, but as one who has been there and done that, I can tell you those rewards will never fully satisfy. That is why there is a continual seeking for something more.
I lived that life, but for the last 51 of my 73 years I have found the complete and lasting satisfaction of a life surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ, my sin Bearer, my Saviour.
Do you agree that "from little things, big things grow"?
Do you agree that so-called "little" sins (wrongs) can do as much harm as bigger ones?
Are "white lies" ever justified?
2 people like this
4 responses
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
23 Oct 09
Well I will at least answer your last question with an example. I'm sleeping on the sofa at home. Naomi wanted to know why. So Richard told her it was because of his snoring. Well that isn't the real reason, but we weren't ready to tell the little people that mom and dad are having problems. If there's a chance that it will work out, we don't want them worrying about possible divorce scenarios and so on. We don't want to burden them with adult business, so to speak. And if we do split up, we want to tell them at a time and place and in a manner of our choosing.
That said, lying to somebody to protect them is walking a very fine line and playing with trust and can easily backfire in your face.
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
23 Oct 09
I have mixed emotions Dawn. Firstly, I am saddened because being the optimist I am, I was hoping things would improve for you. Then again, being the super-optimist, I think this could be what you need BEFORE things improve.
I certainly understand the "white lie" and the reasons for it, but I know, as you do, that this could backfire. If things don't work out they will recognise the lie - another reason to hope the marriage can be saved.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
23 Oct 09
I think this was what I needed a year ago or two years ago. :-(
But yeah, my kids aren't stupid, if we split up they will quite probably figure it out.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
23 Oct 09
PS how do you feel about partial truths? The snoring was part of the reason...
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
30 Oct 09
yes, what a great enlightening story. sometimes if we dont tell little white lies as you call it, it can hurt someones feelings really bad. my friend is always saying things like, i keep trying to lose weight and i think im loosing dont you? do you really think im going to tell her what im really thinking? like not at all. you are still fat as a frog and you need to just eat one portion and not go stretch your stomache by saying this is not fattening and go eat a second large helpingso are you saying thats a terrible sin when i say, yes, your looking a little thinner? I really dont think Jesus was so cold hearted. sorry glad you are very devoted tho, since he says if we deny him he will deny us in heaven.
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
31 Oct 09
No, I'm not saying it would be a "terrible" sin, since I do not believe any sin is small or big, or harmless or terrible. Sin is sin.
I think I would avoid it by saying "Well, I'm happy that you are happy with your efforts" Since I would be happy that she is happy, I would be avoiding the truth, but not telling a lie. I might also ask if she has weighed herself, and how much she has lost (as an effort to encourage her to try harder)
Jesus wasn't above calling people whited sepulchres. He called sin what it was and was quite cutting at times.
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
30 Oct 09
Interesting story and thoughts here. I think personally this one does share a lot of things here to think on for sure. Because personally it makes us think about all of the things in life we have here to share and talk about and how each little thing we talk about could react on how someone else will take them and choose to live their life each day as well. Personally I think your thoughts here on this one are true for sure, as we need to watch what we say and relate things too as you never know who is watching, and when you continuously help relate things to Good and Jesus in your life others will notice and want to know who he is as well.
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
30 Oct 09
True. We tend to ignore the "little" wrongs, or excuse them, but they are just as bad as the "big" things and WILL grow bigger.
We need to set a watch on our lips - or in the case of here on myLot, on our typing fingers.
@killersss (638)
• India
23 Oct 09
well, i don't know much about it but i don't believe anything which i have never observed by myself, i don't agree to anything that i have never seen in my life, so i would say it is a lie and it is not justified.