Solomon’s View of Sin

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…Ā Haughty eyes, a proud heart,Ā and evil actions are all sin.” Ā Proverbs 21:4 NLT

James the Apostle in discussing how easy it is to sin by what we say, says, “We all stumble in many ways…” (James 3:2 NIV) James also, says, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” (James 4:17 NIV) Solomon says we can sin with our “eyes” and our “heart” as much as through our actions. Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ā€˜Do not commit adultery.ā€™ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28 NIV)

Solomon was insightful when he observed,Ā Who can say, ā€œI have cleansed my heart;Ā I am pure and free from sinā€? (Proverbs 20:9 NLT) As we have moved through the ages we can see the words the Lord spoke to Cain being applicable to us all,Ā Ā “…if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7 NIV)

It is easy to view the default of our lives as being more free from sin, than being those who are constantly faced with sin. However, we need to understand that the opposite is more true in our lives. Solomon said, People may be right in their own eyes,Ā but the Lord examines their heart.” (Proverbs 21:2 NLT)Ā 

This all shows us the truth of the simple declaration of scripture, “all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory…” (Romans 3:23) We are in constant need of the Lord’s forgiveness and grace in our life. As we see in Solomon’s words and in a variety of scriptures, it is easy to sin. God’s perfect standard is so beyond the reach of human nature, we need a supernatural savior to rescue us from ourselves.

When we understand the propensity to sin, we can better appreciate the position of being “clothed in the righteousness of Christ” because of His forgiveness and grace. Isaiah declared, it, “I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness.” (Isaiah 61:10 NLT) Ā Paul put it this way, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,Ā so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT)

The words of the ancient hymn “Come Thou Fount of Many Blessings” capture our propensity to sin and our need to the Lord’s continuing grace and forgiveness:

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Hereā€™s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.Ā 

Prayer for today…Ā Lord, how we need Your amazing grace! Help us to continually be thankful for your forgiveness and to be aware our how easy it is for us to “miss the mark” even in ways that escape our attention. Your love and forgiveness and the position you grant us, enables us to stand in awe of who You are and what You have done for us.