The Danger is in the Exceptions

Life is filled with exceptions.

“You can make a turn on red, except when pedestrians are present.”
“Take the elevator, except when there’s a fire. Then head for the stairs.”
“Don’t lie, except when you’re hiding the innocent.”

These exceptions aren’t holes in our character, but they make life workable and manageable and safe. They interrupt the normal order of things for a higher purpose. We see the need for them.

But there are times when exceptions are made for our own comfort and convenience. Or for our physical, emotional, or spiritual protection. Making exceptions can become a way of life for us that weaken our resolve. And these exceptions eat away at our integrity and our faithfulness.

An Old Verse with New Conviction

There is a verse that I read with new conviction last week. It told of the beginning of Solomon’s reign as heir to the throne of David. It is written, “Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense in the high places.” (1 Kings 3:3)

The word except should get our attention like the crash of a cymbal. Here was a man who had the integrity to ask God for wisdom. He was all in for God, except. Except there was a part of his life, his theology, his priorities, that he wouldn’t give up. Let me remind you, the high places were places of false idol worship. He would follow the ways of his father, David, except that he made a permanent space in his life for idolatry.

As I read about Solomon, I have to ask, “Do I have my exceptions when it comes to following God with all my heart?”

Where do I say,

“Lord, I’ll go anywhere, except…?

“Lord, I’ll forgive anything, except…?

“Lord, I’ll tell the truth, except…?

“Lord, I’ll sacrifice everything, except…?

“Lord, I’ll believe all your Word teaches, except…?

When we make exceptions in our fidelity to Christ and his lordship, we are really making room for other gods. We are placing something, a desire, a feeling, a priority, our reason, a thing, a person, over and above our worship of the Lord.

Our Downfall

The saddest part of Solomon’s story was that his exceptions became his downfall. “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.” (1 Kings 11:4)

And then God said, “I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.” (1 Kings 11:11).

Let God show you your exceptions so they don’t become your downfall. We’d all hate to get to a point in our lives, where the thing we’ve held onto trips us up and causes us to lose the blessings God would want to give us.

I pray God, in his grace, shows you the exceptions you may still be holding onto. And that his Spirit will give you the conviction and courage to let it go.