{"id":58435,"date":"2008-01-25T14:22:00","date_gmt":"2008-01-25T20:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=58435"},"modified":"2023-01-25T15:07:19","modified_gmt":"2023-01-25T21:07:19","slug":"one-sinner-destroys-much-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/one-sinner-destroys-much-good\/","title":{"rendered":"One Sinner Destroys Much Good"},"content":{"rendered":"\nby Ron Daly\n
Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.<\/em>
\nEcclesiates 9:18<\/blockquote>\n

The title of this article comes from a statement of the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes in chapter 9, verse 18. It conveys a thought that each of us must consider. It tells us that a sinner wields a lot of influence, but it is the wrong kind and it is destructive! Notice that the text doesn’t say that “many sinners destroy much good,” but “one sinner destroys much good.” Many times one sinner does more harm to the cause of good than one righteous person does to a stampeding herd of ungodliness.<\/p>\nA preacher may be a very effective pulpiteer and he may have a firm grasp on the truth of scripture, but if he doesn’t believe what he preaches enough to live it, he is himself a sinner who destroys any good that he achieves (I
\nTimothy 4:11-12).\n

An elder may have tremendous leadership skills coupled with a broad knowledge of God’s word, but if he doesn’t practice what he requires about honesty, controlling the tongue, moral purity, and all else, he isn’t fit for the position of overseer. He will destroy any good that he accomplishes (I Timothy 5:20; Titus 1:7).<\/p>\n

A Bible class teacher may be kind, knowledgeable, and very practical in his application of scripture, but if he is a gossiper, quick-tempered, listens to slander, and never asks forgiveness from those against whom he has sinned, any good that he accomplishes will be destroyed by his sins (Romans 2:19-24).<\/p>\n

If one hundred people obey the gospel every week and gather for worship and if they see people in the assembly who also claim to be Christians, but frequent drug houses, strip clubs, bars, prostitution and gambling houses, receive and conceal stolen property, and swindle others out of their belongings, any good that is accomplished by the congregation will be destroyed (Hebrews 10:26-29).<\/p>\n

We should promote good instead of destroying it. If our lives are not what God says they should be we are destroying the good that we or other saints seem to be achieving. We must repent of our sins and start anew. Grieving in sin isn’t the answer. We’ve got to get over the “self-pity complex.” If there is sin in your life, stop it and turn to God. Then and only then will the good that we and others are trying to do will not be destroyed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Ron Daly Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good. Ecclesiates 9:18 The title of this article comes from a statement of the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes in chapter 9, verse 18. It conveys a thought that each of us must consider. It tells us that a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[353,179],"class_list":["post-58435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-influence","tag-sin"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":41622,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/saint-or-sinner\/","url_meta":{"origin":58435,"position":0},"title":"Saint or Sinner?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 19, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 1 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Would you describe yourself as a saint or a sinner? Or perhaps you see yourself as both. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0John Calvin, and his followers, believe that God selects those who are saved. Once selected, that person cannot be removed from God\u2019s saving hand. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":45879,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/could-you-explain-ecclesiastes-226\/","url_meta":{"origin":58435,"position":1},"title":"Could you explain Ecclesiastes 2:26?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 1, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Could you explain Ecclesiastes 2:24-26? What is meant in verse 26 by \"... while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God's sight ...\"? Answer: The book of Ecclesiastes is exploring the purpose\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":28532,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-does-alien-sinner-mean\/","url_meta":{"origin":58435,"position":2},"title":"What does “alien sinner” mean?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I came across an article on your website by James Sasser comparing Romans 4 and James 2.\u00a0In it, he uses the term \"alien sinner\" several times in reference to Abraham and Romans 4:4-5.\u00a0Can you define this term for me? It is something I have not heard mentioned before. Thanks!\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":32617,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-the-difference-between-sinning-stumbling-in-sin-and-being-a-sinner\/","url_meta":{"origin":58435,"position":3},"title":"What is the difference between sinning, stumbling in sin, and being a sinner?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello Brother, Can you explain the difference between a person sinning, stumbling in sin, and being a sinner? How does God separate the three? I know that it's all sin in God's eyes. But is it just a stumble here and there of the same sin or multiple sins?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":44856,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-rebuking-a-sinner-once-enough\/","url_meta":{"origin":58435,"position":4},"title":"Is rebuking a sinner once enough?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 14, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi, I was reading your article\u00a0How do I tell someone they are sinning? and I wanted to ask a question concerning Galatians 6:1. When correcting another Christian about a sin, does one have to continue until they stop or try and leave the rest up to God? Answer: It\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54138,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/coddling-sinners\/","url_meta":{"origin":58435,"position":5},"title":"Coddling Sinners","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Ron Daly To \"coddle\" is to treat indulgently. Coddling sinners not only can be but is disastrous to an individual or congregation. God does not give us any authority to provide an \"escape hatch\" for sinners, that is, people who sin and do not repent. 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