A Little Leaven

A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Galatians 5:9

Leaven, or yeast, is used as a common biblical illustration for sin. When yeast is added to dough, it works its way throughout the dough causing it to rise. That same yeast can be used over and over again.

When Paul was writing to the Galatians, he was warning them how sin can find a way into the life of a believer, and have a negative impact where you don’t expect it.

You can’t expect sin to be in one area of your life, and not impact your whole life. That’s like saying you can have an intimate relationship with a member of the opposite sex and not have it affect your spouse. But that relationship will not only affect your spouse, but also everyone you’re close to; family, friends, co-workers, etc.

In Psalm 51:4 King David said “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight”. When we sin, it is truly against God only…He is the one who defines what sin is. But the impact sin has on others can not only be detrimental to our testimony, but debilitating to the ministry God wants to use us in.

So how do we keep ourselves from allowing sin to gain a foothold in our lives? Paul gives us the answer in Galatians 5:16: “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” When we give the Holy Spirit full control of our lives, He keeps us from falling, and if we do fall, He lifts us up again.

We also read in Psalm 119:11, “Your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You.” When we continue to read the word of God, even when we don’t feel like it, we can be strengthened by it. Finally, James writes in James 4:7 “resist the devil, and he will flee from you”. When we go to the Lord in prayer, asking for help, He is faithful to help us, and forgive us even when we fail.