The yeast in sin

A pinch of yeast is all that it takes to blow up bread flour several times its size. It is remarkable how just a dash of this product could work such a miracle. Well, this could well be one of those times when little becomes much. If anything, it is telling us to pay heed to the things we call little. Little must be reckoned with. It is not just enough to brush any little thing aside and classify it is as unimportant or insignificant.

Let’s take a kerosene lamp with a keyhole-sized crack on its glass globe, a gush of wind through that crack can snuff out the light and plunge you into darkness. You probably had long ignored the crack as nothing to fret over and it did not occur to you to have it sealed, yet wind into any aperture that size can deprive you of light. We need to pay attention to little things or they will end up giving us big problems.

Let’s take a look at the tongue, it is among one of the organs of the body that is referred to as small and yet it is a very dangerous instrument. It blows both hot and cold air. The Bible describes it as “....fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3:6)

You can tame animals, you can control practically everything except the tongue “....but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8) James, the writer, of the book concludes thus: “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” (James 3:10) The tongue is a destructive weapon. Depending on what use you put it to, it can either build or crush you, lift you up or destroy you. Dear reader, what is it you do with your tongue? Whatever it is, don’t let it govern you.                             

Homes have been broken, nations destroyed, friends put at loggerheads, wars started, relationships compromised because our tongues have not stopped wagging. This should not be. The words that come out of our mouths are a force intended to comfort and strengthen us, to pamper and motivate us. Next time your tongue is set in motion make sure it is encouraging someone and not tearing him/her apart. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21)

In general, we do not pay much heed to little things; we do not think they would cause much harm even. The images painted thus contradict this thinking. It is best we nip these little, yeast-like sins in the bud before they spread like cankerworm. There is nothing which qualifies as little sin therefore we must be wary of the little things that start small only to end up giant-size and uncontrollable.

Do you know that the great merchant ships that ply the high seas and gigantic aeroplanes are steered to the left or right by a small instrument called ‘a rudder?’ It is an insignificant part of the vessel’s instruments, yet it is vital to its operations.

There is still need to underline that we should not overlook any sin as little. In God’s eyes sin is sin. The Bible teaches that if we sin in one of the commandments and observe the other nine we have sinned in all. “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ ” (James 2.10-11) 

In Ecclesiastes chapter 10 verse 1 the writer confirms “As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.” Satan, the trickster, has the ability to lure us, in small doses, until we become hooked and fall prey. We do not see the danger coming because many times, it is sugar-coated, the bitter part is hidden to make it palatable. Eve had dropped her guard the day of her encounter with the serpent in the Garden. He made it look like no big deal if Eve should eat the fruit – the contrary of what God had said. “You will not surely die, for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5) Imagine having to be like God, who would not like to? That is where Satan hit hard - Eve’s ego. And she swallowed the bait - hook line and sinker. 

In the book of Song of Solomon, the picture of small foxes “....that ruin the vineyards.....that are in bloom.” (Song of Solomon 2:15) is painted by the writer, emphasizing the damage little things can do in our lives.  

The yeast in sin can blow things out of proportion also and contribute to our ruin. They tend to fool us into thinking that God will overlook sin. Beware of little foxes (or would it be ‘mice’ in your case?) or they will take residence and before you know it, TROUBLE.