Have you ever thought about how easy it is to destroy something compared to creating it? I was reminded of this during a recent house project.
We decided to replace our old, wooden, patio stairs as part of a backyard project. The stairs were about 10 years old and the bottom boards were starting to rot. One evening, I decided to demo them. I took a circular saw, pry bar, and hammer; I destroyed and removed the old stairs in about one hour! After I finished my demolition work, I was struck by how quickly I was able to do that.
Fast forward a month. I started the rebuild of the new stairs. Between watching instructional videos, talking to people who had built stairs, designing them (and buying supplies), I easily put in five hours before I even started. Then, during the actual construction, between the multiple trips to the hardware store, measuring and cutting boards, building and finishing, it took me approximately twelve more hours!
So, all told, it took me about 17 hours to rebuild what I had destroyed in 1 hour. Likewise, it says in Proverbs 17:14, “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out”. Watch some videos on breaching a dam — it is incredibly destructive! This verse warns us that starting a quarrel can be that damaging. A friendship that can take a long time to build, can be quickly damaged during a fight.
But, this is bigger than quarrels. A godly, healthy marriage takes years to build. Yet, it can be destroyed quickly with our sinful choices. Or, take our reputation. Again, years to create a solid one, but it can be destroyed with just a few poor choices. Your dignity, your job, the list goes on and on. These are things that take years to build and can quickly be destroyed through a few sinful actions.
Sobered by the consequences of sin,
Josh
Posted in A Word from the Pastor