The Myth of the “Little” Sin

A while ago, I read a story about a teenager from England who kept a Great Black Emperor scorpion as a pet. The teen had a habit of giving the scorpion, whom he named Twiggy, a goodnight kiss.

But one night, much to the teenager’s surprise, Twiggy stung his owner on the lip. Then Twiggy jumped into his mouth and stung him again. As a result, he was hospitalized.

Clearly, he underestimated the nature of that creature.

We can be like that when it comes to sin in our lives. Most people fall into sin by entertaining what they see as small sins. But those so-called small sins snowball into big ones.

We might say, “It’s a little thing. It really won’t do any harm.” So we will commit a little sin in our estimation, something that doesn’t seem significant. And then we’re shocked when it turns around and bites us, when it hurts us. We can’t believe that it happened.

But what were we expecting?

If the Bible tells us to stay away from a certain thing, even if we don’t think it’s significant, then we obey, because God is looking out for us. If He tells us not to do something, that means it will hurt us if we do it. And if He tells us to do a certain thing, that means it will help us if we do it. We need to learn to trust Him.

It’s not for us to second-guess God or edit His Word. Who are we to do that?

Jesus said, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14 nkjv). He didn’t say, “You are My friends if you do whatever you’re personally comfortable with or find easy.”

Thus, we must obey God in all things, big or little, because the little compromises in life lead to big compromises.