The Problem with Compromise

Jesus said the kingdom of Heaven is like leaven, a comparison that may not mean a lot to us today. But it would have been immediately understood by the people of His day. Leaven is like yeast, and it always has negative connotations in Scripture.

Before the Passover, Moses instructed the Israelites, "Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses . . . " (Exodus 12:15). Picking up on this theme, Paul wrote to believers in Corinth who were actually boasting about welcoming a compromising believer: "Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:6–7). Jesus also said, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees" (Matthew16:6).

Leaven represents corruption, infiltration, and compromise. It is a picture of compromise in our lives, an illustration of how little things turn into big things.

Though a baby rattlesnake may look kind of cute and is small enough to hold in the palm of your hand, its venom is more potent than that of an adult rattler. In the same way, we can look at sin in our lives and say, "This little sin? It is not a big thing." But wait until it bites you. Compromise works its way into your life, and then it permeates every area.

Is there sin in your life right now that you have not dealt with? Get rid of it before it undermines you spiritually.