COMPROMISE
There once was a family who lived in a large city. After many years of this stress-filled existence, the father, mother, son, and daughter became disillusioned with “city-life”. One day they received word that through the passing of a long-lost relative they had inherited a cattle ranch in rural Texas. Excited about the prospect of moving away from the city, the family happily packed up their belongings and moved to Texas. Once there, the first order of business was to name the ranch. Each family member had a name they liked best. The father wanted to name it “The Rocking K”, the mother “The Circle D”, the son “The Big C”, and the daughter “The Lazy J”. Well, after much discussion the family agreed to a compromise. They decided to call the ranch “The Rocking K Circle D Big C Lazy J Ranch”.
One day a friend from the city came to visit the ranch. As the visitor toured the ranch, he noticed there were no cows or cattle present. Curious about this, the visitor asked, “If this is a cattle ranch, where are the cattle?” The father replied, “Well, the cattle didn’t survive the branding.”
One lesson we can learn from this humorous story is that “compromise” isn’t always good. Because of the family’s compromise in the naming of the ranch, the ranch could no longer be used for its intended purpose.
I feel this story can have a spiritual application as well. Much like the cattle ranch with no cattle, due to compromise Christians can lose their effectiveness for God in this world. (Read Revelation 3:14-16.) In this day of “political correctness” and “tolerance”, there is a temptation for Christians to “compromise” their faith. The line between “right” and “wrong” can easily become blurred. But God’s Word is clear. The Ten Commandments are not “The Ten Suggestions”. Even though thousands of years have passed by, God’s Word is still a clear directive for our lives today. Worldly views about right and wrong may change, but God’s Word remains constant.
It is our desire at Redeemer Lutheran School that students will leave our school with a firm foundation in God’s Word. With that foundation in place, they can then be effective witnesses for God in this world, witnesses who will not compromise their faith.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house upon the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25