“He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.” (Proverbs 17:15)

Suppose that you live in a very rural area. You and your spouse have one young child, and there are few neighbors with children. The potential friends your child’s age are limited to two: a boy who has bully-like tendencies and a girl who is known for seldom telling the truth. Which one do you choose to be your child’s playmate? Let’s make the scenario even more personal.  You have been without work for months after having been laid off. You are the sole income earner for several other dependent persons. After many weeks of sending out resumes and being turned down following numerous interviews, you have just been offered two jobs. The one is with a company where the boss is egotistical and has a history of firing people.  The head of the other company has a reputation for being deceptive, and if it comes down to defending you – she would most likely let you hang out to dry.  Welcome to being caught between a proverbial rock and a hard place where your choice may be limited to the lesser of two evils. Or is it?

The lesser of two evils principle subscribes the belief that when faced with selecting from two unpleasant options, the one which is least harmful should be chosen. This implies that when confronted with two sources of harm, we are left with choosing harm. The real quandary is how to do good when we seem to have only immoral choices. Or as some would say – “how to make the best of a bad situation.”  When challenged with this set of circumstances, one must carefully examine all the options and determine if, in any way, our personal values would be compromised.  If we are looking for perfection, then we set ourselves up for failure. Short of Christ Himself, we will seldom find an option without inherent negatives.  Pray about the possibilities available to you, and seek guidance as to whether every option is truly corrupt. “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel” (Proverbs 1:5). You may conclude that not all the available choices are, in fact, evil.

However, when a Christian is confronted with two clearly evil or immoral options – one cannot rationalize to side with immorality just because the alternative appears to be worse. Scripture tells us we will be held accountable not only for the evil deeds we do but also when we “give approval to those who practice them” (Rom. 1:32). The Apostle Paul warned in his second letter to Timothy, that there will be times (he specifically refers to the ‘end times’) when life will be difficult. “For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Nineteenth century author and Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon once said that “Choosing evil is not an option.” We must therefore believe that God always gives us more than a choice of evil. To think less means that we are presented only with options which are dishonorable to God. Honoring God must always be our choice, rather than giving into sin. “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13). It is clear in Scripture that God’s people would follow what they determined to be true to their beliefs, allowing the consequences to be judged by the Lord of history. So “do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). For when we find ourselves in a position that we need to defend what we once would have considered disgraceful, we need to be careful we don’t lose our self in the process. That’s evil in its worse form, and it’s not the lesser of anything.

REFLECTION: What are some decisions in your personal journey that you were uncomfortable making because you sensed your values would be compromised?  If it is true that God always gives us a choice of doing good, what are you willing to sacrifice in doing so? Will you need to you justify your actions?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., NOVEMBER 5, 2016.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.