‘PITS’ OF ALL KINDS

March 13

Psalms 119:85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.

Cain couldn’t rejoice at God’s blessings and acceptance of his brother. Because he felt rejected, he had to kill Abel in order to justify himself to his own conscience. It is a proud man who consciously wishes ill will upon another. It is an equally conceited man who cannot rejoice at God’s blessing upon his brother.

The proud makes his candle shine brighter by snuffing that of his brother. He also thinks that he elevates himself by making another fall. It’s pathetic how the devil, whose downfall was pride (Isaiah 14:13-14), can so easily convince mankind to follow his dandy bad example.

The law punished the digging of pits that caused injury or death to either a human or a beast of burden, even if it wasn’t done on purpose (Exodus 21:33-34). But is digging a physical pit the only way to make a man fall?

If we know of a pit somewhere disguised as a temptation, and in our lethargy we do not do something to keep a brother or a sister from falling into it, are we not in a sense ‘digging a pit’ for them?

If someone doesn’t know the Lord and is therefore condemned to the pit of hell, if because of our indifference we do not do our best to bring the Gospel to them, aren’t we in a sense ‘digging a pit’ for their souls?

When we claim to be Christians but yet are not watchful of our sample or ‘conversation’, and because of our disobedience others get a negative or wrong impression of the One we represent, aren’t we ‘digging a pit’ where they might fall?

As Christians, we are keepers of the brethren within the fold and of those without the fold. May we not in our pride, disobedience, lethargy and indifference ‘dig pits’ for our brothers and sisters.

Ezekiel 3:17-19 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. (18) When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. (19) Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.