When I was a child, one big word that I learned very early in life was the word “consequences.” It was a scary word. It meant that whenever I chose to do something wrong — like disobey or disrespect my parents and elders — there would be consequences. For sure.
I re-learned this big, scary word from American nuns, some of whom were our teachers when we were children until our early teens. They added God into the equation: if we sinned, there would be serious consequences.
True enough, one time, when a classmate and I broke school rules (we chatted in the bathroom instead of going back right away to study period), we were suspended from class for two days — with our names printed in huge letters as “Suspended”. This was posted on our school bulletin board, for all to see. We also automatically lost the chance to be in the Honor Roll that quarter. Imagine the shame my friend and I felt! I don’t know how I managed to reappear in school after two days.
In hindsight, I’m realizing now that understanding the word “consequences” can actually save us from a lot of grief and heartache in life. But if we don’t heed the warnings, then we will certainly reap the concomitant pain and misery.
For example, I’ve seen how selfishness and greed are twin choices that brought untold sorrow to me and some people I know.
I was a workaholic who did it for the money; for the perks and benefits it brought: new houses, new cars, traveling overseas starting in my mid-20s. There was nothing noble about this choice I made. I fooled myself and justified my greed by saying I was doing it for our family. But ironically, it nearly cost me my marriage and children, almost 40 years ago.
Thank goodness I came to my senses very fast after a friend (who was clueless about my problems) brought me to this fantastic Bible study right in the middle of my marital crisis. There, I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ, attended weekly Bible studies thereafter, and in three weeks — by some awesome supernatural intervention — my marriage was saved! Without any therapy or marriage counseling. Yes. It was amazing. Even today, I’m still happily flabbergasted .
But that experience was unique and personal to my husband and me. Because in our case, the consequences weren’t protracted, and restoration was surprisingly fast. Jesus intervened immediately after we committed our lives to Him.
For others, the pain, destruction, and complications takes years — even decades — to heal and resolve.
For many out there — selfishness, greed and materialism were the perfect trifecta for broken marriages, serial infidelities, children who were spoiled then later fell into addictions, immorality, teenage pregnancies or abortions, sexually transmitted diseases, joblessness, bankruptcy, failed businesses. This list of consequences is severely limited.
What’s even more horrifying is that ONE wrong choice can lead to a plethora of painful consequences, heretofore unimaginable.
At 30, I was shocked at how materialism and greed almost pushed me off a precipice — almost dragging down my husband and children with me. In God’s mercy, that deadly plunge was prevented.
Each day, we are all faced with choices. Every right choice will always bring good results which will lead to even MORE good ones in the future. There are no exceptions.
The opposite is also true: every wrong choice, every sinful choice, will always bring destructive, damaging, debilitating consequences. There are no exceptions.
So before making a choice — we must always, always think of the possible consequences.
The Bible warns us —
“God will never be mocked! For what you plant will be the very thing you harvest. The harvest you reap will reveal the very seed you planted. If you plant the corrupt seed of self-life into this natural realm, you can expect a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit life, you will reap beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit. (Galatians 6: 7-8)
