The Subtle Flaw

I’m sure you have heard the story (or a variation) of the teacher that placed an unsuspecting frog in an over sized beaker of water. Under the beaker he placed a Bunsen burner with a low flame so that the water heated slowly.

The temperature rose so gradually that the frog was not aware of the change. Eventually the frog was dead, boiled to death.

The change occurred so slowly the frog never tried to jump out.

This displays a profound principle, one that should remind us of the frog the rest our lives. The principle, a real law in a word, is deterioration, the silent toll of ugly creeping decay.

The first 11 chapters of I Kings give us a living lesson of the slow, unrecognizable to himself, deterioration of a great man.

Blessed with royal blood and an abundance of intellect, Solomon was a natural for the throne of David. As heir apparent, he was taught at the feet of the prophet Nathan, groomed and prepared through his mother, Bathsheba, refined under the eyes of David and matured by the hand of God.

No doubt about it, the mark of experience, and the seal of approval was upon him. Though he was young when his father died, he was thoroughly prepared to reign over Israel.

David’s gifted son for the first few years of his kingship characterized the attitudes and acts of wisdom, loyalty, diplomacy, faithfulness and efficiency.

First of all, “Solomon loved the Lord” (I Kings 3:3) and walked in His ways. Solomon achievements, power, international influence and wealth were noting short of remarkable, review I Kings 4:29-31; 10:23-24.

He sought wisdom, happiness and pleasure. He was the wealthiest man who ever lived, no doubt a multi-billionaire by today’s standards. Solomon, as this world would look at it, really had it made.

Slowly, imperceptibly, things began to change. Solomon began to allow some compromise to enter his life. He allowed himself to wander into a bit of pride, then lust, idolatry and licentiousness. He became unreasonable, even cynical of things he once held in high esteem.

Layers of dust collected in the majestic temple he built to honor the almighty God who gave him so much. The king turned his attention to another pet project: the building of unusual edifices for the gods he and his pagan wives were serving.

Solomon simply drove too fast and traveled too far. Solomon forgot who gave him everything he had. He forgot to check his character deterioration level.

The finish of his now sordid life came prematurely. His so-called success story became a sad story. We know because all he did and the wisdom that God granted him, is preserved for our learning.

Read what Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 2:26. He left a nation confused, in conflict and soon to be fractured by war.

Remember the frog. Deterioration is never sudden. No garden all of a sudden becomes over grown with weeds. No building all of a sudden crumbles. No marriage all of a sudden breaks down. No strong nation all of a sudden becomes an average power. No man or woman all of a sudden becomes immoral or base. No Christian all of a sudden squelches God’s Spirit.

Slowly, ever so slowly, certain things are accepted that once were rejected. Things once considered harmful are now secretly tolerated. Little by little we let down.

At the outset it appears harmless, perhaps even exciting but the wedge it brings leaves a gap that grows wider as moral corrosion joins hands with spiritual decay. The gap becomes a deep ravine. That “way which seems right” slowly becomes, in fact, “the way of death.” King Solomon wrote that in Proverbs 14:12. He ought to know.

Read what Paul had to say about this matter in I Corinthians 10:12. Be careful about changing standards or priorities to correspond with personal desires. We need to be cautious about becoming inflated with thoughts of our own importance.

Be alert to the pitfalls of misguided prosperity and success. God grants riches and success, be patient. Stay balanced in all things. Ask God daily to give His wisdom and understanding. We must keep our eyes on the goal. Don’t compromise God’s law.

Remember Solomon, who deteriorated from a humble young man of wisdom to a vain fool in a rather brief span of years. Be on guard. Don’t become complacent. Watch and pray. We must not take our calling lightly.

The memory of the frog should keep us out of hot water. We all will do well to remember the principle of deterioration.