Worse than Falling

Judges 20:46

So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.

We see the men of Benjamin in a battle. Sadly, it says about these men that they were overtaken in the battle. Yes, these men fell, but they were at least fighting in the battle. It could be easy to criticize these men for falling in the battle, but they were fighting, and you expect people to die in the battle. When God describes these men who were overtaken in the battle, He says they were men of valour. God could have said they were rebels. God could have said these men fought against the rest of the tribes of Israel. However, even God described these men who were overtaken in the battle in a positive light, men who were described as men of valour.

It is easy to criticize people who fall into sin. However, Proverbs 6:26 says, For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Notice, the adulteress didn't go after the sluggard, but after the precious life. Oh, these people who fall in the battle certainly cause much harm to the cause of Christ, but let us not forget that these people are often believers of valor; believers who fought in the battle that Satan considered a worthy target to take out.

As bad as it is when one of God’s people of valor falls in the battle, I find some are much worse. These that I am about to point out likely cause more harm to the cause of Christ than those who have fallen in the battle. Oh, these that I will point out are not criticized or exposed, and yet they have caused much more harm to the cause of Christ than the mighty warriors of Christ who have fallen in the battle. Let me point out these people.

First, those who quit in the day of battle are much worse than those who fall in the battle. Quitting is the cowardly way out. Quitting is turning around in the battle. At least those who fell were moving forward. Turning your back on Christ and quitting will do much more harm to the battle than the guy who has fallen into sin.

Second, those who change sides are much worse than those who fall in the battle. Sadly, many have compromised and changed sides in the battle, and these always do more harm than the fallen. In fact, it is these who are often critical of the fallen. Changing uniforms in the middle of the battle is an act of evil. It is these who change the uniform who pull innocent people along with them to everyone’s detriment.

Third, those who sit on the day of battle are worse than those who fall in the battle. Mind telling me what those sitting have done for the cause of Christ? Those who are sitting can't fall because they are sitting. Instead of focusing your target on the fallen, you should focus it on those who sit and do nothing for the cause of Christ.

Fourth, those who try to kill the fallen are much worse than the fallen. This crowd is as bad as the quitter and the turncoat. This crowd doesn't call the spiritual medic to help restore the fighter so they can get back in the battle; instead, they take the sword of their tongue to kill their own.

My friend, we need every person in this spiritual battle. Let’s be people who pray for the fallen and stay focused on our own battle so that we are not overtaken in this battle ourselves.