Watch Out For the “Who”
Galatians 5:7
“Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?”
God likens the Christian life to a race. Normally a race is an individual sport where only one person receives the prize; however, the Christian race is a relay race in which everyone can receive a prize. What is interesting about the Christian race is that though we are all on the same team, some on the team will receive a prize and others will not.
Twice in the Book of Galatians, God asked these Christians who caused them to fall away from the truth. He did not ask them “what” caused them to fall away from the truth, for things are not the greatest cause of compromise. Certainly, there are some who left the truth for the pleasures of this present world, but things are not the common thread for which someone compromises from truth. God asked these Christians “who” caused them to fall away. It is commonly a person who will cause others to compromise.
There are two ways that people cause compromise. First, God asks in Galatians 3:1, “…who hath bewitched you,…” The word “bewitched” means, charmed or fascinated. In other words, some people compromise because someone was charming enough to get you to leave the truths of the Word of God. Being “bewitched” is almost like someone cast a spell over you with their charming words and fascinating personality. God is warning you to watch out for the suave personality who can speak so well that they can charm you away from truths of the Word of God.
The second way people cause you to compromise is found in the verse above when God says, “…who did hinder you…” The word “hinder” means, to beat back. God is warning that if you are not careful, you will become so tired of being beaten up from the attacks of others that you will finally give in and compromise. These attacks are not always from the heathen or even liberals; rather, these attacks often come from within your own ranks. Many people have become so tired of being beaten up that they compromise. Let me give you some cautions about these thoughts.
First, be careful with whom you associate. If people can charm you into compromise, then you must be careful to whom you listen. Many people listen to and read the books of liberals for the sake of ideas, only to allow their charming words to pull them away from the truth. Christian, be very careful about whom you allow to influence you. Anytime you read someone’s book, listen to them teach or preach, you are allowing them to influence you. Don’t let them charm or fascinate you away from the truth.
Second, no matter how good someone says something, always make sure what they said is confirmed by the Word of God. There are many people who have been fascinated by an individual that they take their statements as gospel. Let me warn you that nobody should ever be given that open sheet in your life. You should make sure everything you hear from others is confirmed by the Word of God. Make God’s Word your final authority.
Third, never let the battle tire you into compromising. It does get tiring fighting battles. If you are not careful, the Devil will get you to compromise because you are tired of fighting. Don’t let the battle cause you to compromise. Don’t give up! The Devil will keep sending battles your way just to get you to compromise if he knows that’s what it takes to get you to surrender.
Christian, always be careful of the “who” in your life. The “who” will cause you to compromise more than the “what.”Let these guidelines guide you so that it can never be said about you, “who” was it that caused you to compromise.