A Little Leaven

Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? —1 Corinthians 5:6

In 1837 an epidemic broke out among the white traders on the boat St. Peters. While the boat was docked at Fort Clark a chief from the Mandan Indians stole a blanket from an infected deck hand. Officers tried to obtain the blanket by offering him a new one, but the chief refused. In about three days the Mandan Indians began to get sick.  Things progressed until hundreds were dying each day.  When it was over, only thirty Mandans were left alive of a tribe that once numbered over 1,700. All because a blanket was stolen.

Sin spreads like that. Sin will not only infect the one committing the sin, but often leads to others being infected also. Twenty-three times it is said Jeroboam’s sin also lead the entire nation of Israel into sin (1 Kings 14:16; 15:26, 30, 34; 16:2, 13, 19, 26; 21:22; 22:52; 2 Kings 3:3; 10:29, 31; 13:2, 6, 11; 14:24; 15:9, 18, 24, 28; 17:21; 23:15).

Don’t be deceived into thinking that your sin will not infect others around you.  Your sinful behavior may be leading someone you know also into sin.