Our Sinful Nature....

When you hear the concept of “sinful nature”, what do you think? Most would say you learned about it in church, being read from an ancient, outdated book. Well, here in Job chapter 30, we read about how man’s sinful nature comes out in his behaviors. For instance, isn’t it peculiar to witness when someone who is or was successful gets bombarded by nay-sayers and critics the second they mess up. Why does man do that? Why does he wait till someone fails, then jump on the bandwagon of criticism, throwing off all restraint, and try to demolish whatever the failed person has left. The proper response would be to help, to comfort, to restore those that have fallen. It’s clearly written throughout scripture that true believers don’t rejoice in others sorrows. This just shows the sinful nature that resides in all of us. Regardless of what you think or agree or disagree with, gossip, slander, injustice, and taking advantage of others is part of that nature that we all try to overcome but fail. It’s only when we ask God for help, that it becomes a daily manageable issue that we do our best to keep under restraint. And it’s only through the freeing power of God’s grace that we succeed. So the next time you see people joining in and slandering someone when they fail, let it be a reminder of what the Bible says about our sinful nature being real, regardless what the world says. It’s only permanent when our pride allows it to stay, when you abandon God or keep Him at arm’s length.

9 “And now they mock me with vulgar songs!They taunt me!10 They despise me and won’t come near me,except to spit in my face.11 For God has cut my bowstring.He has humbled me, so they have thrown off all restraint.12 These outcasts oppose me to my face. They send me sprawlingand lay traps in my path.13 They block my roadand do everything they can to destroy me. They know I have no one to help me. 14 They come at me from all directions.They jump on me when I am down. Job 30:9-14