A Lesson to Others

Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.
–1 Timothy 5:20

Sometimes God allows people, even Christians, to experience the consequences of their sins so that other people will be discouraged from sinning.

We saw an example of this in our study of Acts earlier this year. A couple in the early church named Ananias and Sapphira decided to sell a piece of property and give the proceeds to the church. But they lied and kept some of the profit for themselves. How did God deal with their sin? In a very public way.

When the apostle Peter confronted Ananias about his lie, “Ananias fell down and breathed his last” (Acts 5:5). God struck him dead right on the spot. A few hours later, Sapphira arrived, not knowing what had happened to her husband. When Peter confronted her, she, too, was struck dead. Verse 11 says, “Great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.” Can you imagine seeing two fellow church members struck dead for disobedience? I’m sure the other believers thought, We better shape up! God uses consequences to discourage other people from sinning.

In 1 Timothy 5, Paul instructed his protégée Timothy about leaders in the church. He wrote, “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning” (vv. 19–20). Paul was saying if a leader in the church sins, don’t sweep it under the rug. Make his discipline public so the rest of the church will be discouraged from sinning.

But this principle has wider application than the church. If your teenager gets multiple speeding tickets and you revoke their license, that consequence is also a lesson to any younger siblings as they see what happens if they drive recklessly. If your employee is embezzling funds, firing that employee not only gets rid of the thief but also promotes honesty among your other employees as they see what happens to an employee who steals. God’s principle is for people to experience consequences as a deterrent to others who might sin.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “Why Forgiven People Must Still Sit in the Electric Chair,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2015.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.