Wise in Good, Simple in Evil

Romans 16:18
Sunday, December 12, 2010

“Be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil”

I learned today not to be wise concerning evil and simple concerning good. To be wise concerning evil means that we think we can be wiser than our sin, in that we can set the boundaries of sin. For example, the bible says, “do not lie”. We take it and say, “white lies are ok”, or, “lying sometimes is ok, God will forgive”. God says through Paul, “Be simple concerning evil”, meaning that don’t be smart, God has told you not to, so don’t put your own boundaries closer to the edge of the cliff than you should be.

Everything the bible tells us is in plain words. Don’t do this, and we say, “in circumstances such as this, God will forgive us”. He sure would forgive you, but you are living in a life of a double standard or plainly double mindedness. And the Lord says that He will spew you out of His mouth.

God is serious about sin. He hates it and so must we. Flee from immorality, scripture tells us.

Then come the good part. Be wise in what is good. Now here we can be smart. Some people just live life and say, “If I get the opportunity to give, I would,” or, “if someone comes knocking on my door for help, I would offer…” This I believe is what Paul warns about being simple in what is good.

Now to be wise in what is good, simply means that you are consistently looking for ways to do good. Buddhists and people believing in Karma are doing very well in this. But they are doing it so that they can be satisfied and hopefully find rest in heaven. We Christians ought to do it because our God has called us to do it, not that we will get anything in return but simply because we have already gotten what we do not deserve – the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Be smart and creative. Out of the blue think of someone you can bless. Think of someone who needs something that he/she cannot get for himself/herself. Think of orphans and of old folks who need our support and encouragement. Think of the poor and the lonely. Think of the widow and the fatherless. Constantly think of ways to be a blessing, not in our own strength of course but by the grace of our Lord.

And God is pleased because we go out of our comfort zone to seek the needs of others.