Have You Considered The Consequences?

 

 

Have you considered the serious consequences of being rash, impulsive, headstrong, hotheaded, and inconsiderate?

 

In 2 Timothy 3:4, the Apostle Paul lists rashness as one of the traits of the "last days" - "For men shall be...heady..." (2 Timothy 3:1-4).

 

What this means is that they will be ready to do anything without deliberation or concern for the consequences. In other words, they will be impulsive in their actions and passions.

 

O Christian, are you following along the same lines - walking as the heathen are walking - in recklessness, foolhardiness, thoughtlessness, and heedlessness?

 

There are four basic areas where rashness shows up - in our words, works, prayers, and church administrations.

 

In Proverbs 29:20, Solomon said - "Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him."

 

A "fool" is "counted wise" "when he holds his peace"(Proverbs 17:28). At the same time, a wise man can be considered a fool when he speaks too quickly. It is far better to say nothing at all or to choose each word carefully before speaking - than to blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.

 

In Proverbs 21:5, he went on to say - "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want."

 

Here Solomon set a basic contrast between consistent industry and haste or undue hurry. The man who is diligent - not shrinking back at the first sign of trouble or hard work...doing all of his work with all of his might...improving every opportunity that crosses his path...and not being in a hurry or doing things hastily - becomes rich in the end. Whereas, the man who is greedy of gain...does not take the time to pause or muse upon his business...nor does he plan or think things through - ends up at a loss in the final end.

 

Again, in Ecclesiastes 5:2, Solomon addressed the issue of rashness - only this time in our prayers - "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few."

 

In this verse, we are admonished to be conscientious in our prayers - to weigh our words carefully and cautiously before approaching God. We must always be on guard against uttering hasty vows or promises from heat or passion rather than from a composed heart. It is imperative that we think twice before we speak once.

 

Lastly, we see that rashness is displayed right in the midst of the church - in the area of ministry. In 1 Timothy 5:22, the Apostle Paul said - "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be ye partaker of other men's sins. keep thyself pure." Here, he was instructing Timothy concerning hasty ordination - laying hands heedlessly on those called to a sacred office. It also referred to rashly appointing people to a particular ministry who had not been proven or hurriedly restoring a leader who had fallen without exercising utmost care and caution. 

 

Rash...incautious...reckless...desperate...hotheaded...foolhardy...quick on the trigger - does this describe you?

 

Then - whether you realize it or not - you are entering into the spirit of the Last Days - the spirit of Antichrist.

 

Your haste can cost you severely.

 

If you are not careful, you can become a "partaker in other men's sins" and be on the outs with God.

 

Paul's exhortation for us today is - "...keep thyself pure."

 

And be determined in your heart that you will not be accounted with those who are ready to do anything without deliberation and concern for the consequences.

 

Be conscientious!

Thus saith the Lord!