Over thirty years ago a young girl in Exeter, New Hampshire was injured in a fall from a park swing. The result was a badly bruised knee, and her mother immediately sought medical attention. What followed made this true story so tragically sad.
Arriving at the Emergency Room, the first treatment was proposed. The little girl, fearful of possible pain, cried out, “No, it will hurt.” Tears flowed, her mother relented, and the treatment was postponed.
Four days later, the knee was swollen and infected. The doctor insisted upon treating the child, but again she cried, fearing pain. As before, the parents relented and took her home. When the injury threatened the life of the young girl, the parents could not stand the thought of their daughter having an amputation, so they decided to take their chance on the healing process to save her leg. They never thought it would happen, but their daughter died because they “loved” her too much.
SIN HURTS
The Bible speaks of sin as that which separates man from God. It is such a serious matter that the very Son of God was given as a sacrifice for sin, giving us access to God’s forgiveness. Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life,” John 14:6, and He is the only source of access to that precious forgiveness we all need.
But what often happens when sin’s remedy is proposed? What happens when we are told what God’s forgiveness costs? Are we willing to pay the price? Many, exhibiting shallow thinking, say, “No…it will hurt.” But the “hurt” of sin’s consequences is far greater than the price of repentance.
Yes, it may hurt for a while, but, like the little girl, the alternative is much worse.
DIVISION HURTS
The apostle Paul was inspired to write to Roman Christians:
“I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them,” Romans 16:17.
There are times when the threat of division is so great that the only solution is discipline. But discipline itself is often looked upon as more likely to “hurt” the church than just letting things “slide.” Has God given us bad instruction? No, but ignoring His instructions will “hurt” the church.
“No…it will hurt” is often given as an excuse for ignoring biblical action. There is wisdom in being long-suffering, but eventually, if repentance is not forthcoming, either the divisive person must “hurt” or the church will “hurt.”
Some hearts are hard, refusing to allow loving discipline to heal the “hurt,” but others are not. God has given us the solution, and we dare not consider our wisdom greater than His, Proverbs 3:5-7.
A BAD MARRIAGE HURTS
The first institution formed by God was the home and marriage. In His instructions, God said:
“What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder,” Mark 10:9.
Man has decided that those instructions, along with the rest of God’s will on that subject, are subject to revision. We think we can marry whoever we want, divorce whenever we want, and do whatever seems best to us for self and for man in general. Man says God’s rules are too severe. Man says that if we put them in action, terrible things can and will happen. Man says, “No…it will hurt.”
However, the “hurt” of divorce is so obvious that we know man’s ways are inferior, and it is correct to say that man has “messed things up.” And it just keeps on “hurting.”
SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS “HURTS”
Being right in God’s eyes is wise. But when we seek to be right in our “own eyes,” we are no wiser than the fool of Proverbs 21:2. For three hundred years, Israel followed not God but the way that was “right in his own eyes,” Judges 17:6, 21:25. It is easy to become enamored by our ways, our own “righteousness.”
Biblically, we know there is a time when we must deal with those who are in error, but there is also an important warning in Galatians 6:1:
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
Notice—meekness. Not self-righteousness. A spirit of “humility”, realizing we are also susceptible to temptation. Self-righteousness will hurt us and can hurt those who are seeking God’s truth.
Those parents must have had great sorrow in light of their choices. Yes, the medicine stings for a while, but that’s often what it takes to avoid a more serious “hurt”.
