Trash Under the Rug

Granny had many short sayings that taught powerful lessons. She said, “Be careful not to sweep your trash under the rug. You’re apt to trip over it!” What did she mean? If you continue to ignore the sin in your life, or try to keep it hidden, it is going to catch up with you sooner or later when you trip over it!  What kind of sins do people commit and conveniently sweep under the rug?

Lies. My grandmother also said, “If you tell one lie, you will have to tell a team of them to cover it up!” People think nothing of telling a white lie. But the fact is, a lie is a lie. Solomon wrote, A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish (Proverbs 19:9). Jesus revealed to John the judgement that will be pronounced on all liars.  “…and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8). 

Unwillingness to forgive. In Jesus’ model prayer, He expressed the urgency of forgiving others, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:14). A  person who sweeps a perceived unforgivable act “under the rug,” does more damage to herself that to the other person.

Hatred. “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now” (1 John 2:9).  “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15).
Anger. Anger swept under the rug is called suppressed anger and many times leads to depression and other ills. Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad (Proverbs 12:25). 

Immoral thoughts. Solomon wrote, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” (Proverbs 23:7a). Jesus said, For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, …wickedness, …deceit, …pride.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man (Mark 7:21). Thoughts become words, words become actions, and actions determine one’s eternal destiny.

Covetousness or idolatry. Achan was one of the Jewish soldiers that entered Jericho with Joshua’s army (Joshua 7:19-25). All of the men were told to refrain from taking any of the spoils (silver, gold, bronze, iron), because they were to be consecrated to the Lord. During the battle Achan saw a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels. He coveted them, took them to his tent and hid them in the earth. Achan’s sin brought on the defeat of God’s army at Ai. Joshua eventually found the guilty person who had the ”accursed things.” The riches that Achan “swept under his rug” caught up with Him. He and his entire family were put to death. Paul told the Colossians, Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth…evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry, (Colossians 3:5).

Sexual sin. David saw Bathsheba on the rooftop and greatly admired her beauty. He sent for her and lay with her (2 Samuel 11:3-5). David may have thought he had gotten away with adultery, until she appeared at his door and informed him that she was with child. David immediately put a plan together so he could sweep his sin under the rug, a plan which led to the murder of her husband Uriah (2 Samuel 12:11-14). God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David about his sin. He told the king a parable about a wealthy man who took the only sheep of his neighbor to prepare a dinner for his guests. The King was enraged, and said the rich man should die! Nathan said, “You are the man!” David replied, “I have sinned against the Lord.” David found out the hard way that the sexual sin he tried to hide tripped him in a shameful way!

No matter how hard we try to sweep our sin under the rug, there is One who is all-knowing. God told Jeremiah,“‘Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?’ says the Lord; ‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’” (23:24).  As Christians, the Lord asks us to confess our sins to Him and to one another. He says,  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, James 5:16). The word ‘confess’ here means, ‘to say the same thing.’ You see, we are simply saying what God already knows. When we confess with sincerity and humility, the Father cleanses us from, not some, not most, but all in our lives that is not right with Him. Praise God!

Today’s Verse: “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether (Psalm 139:1-4).

Audios available at http://christianwomanaudiodevotionals.abiblecommentary.com

by Teresa Hampton

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