The cost of a cell phone plan may seem like a bargain until one discovers the hidden costs and unexpected charges that drastically inflate the monthly bill. Hidden costs are an unpleasant reality in everyday living. But have you considered the hidden cost of sin?
David’s lustful gaze upon Bathsheba led him to commit adultery with her and forge a cover-up plot that led to her husband’s murder. Even after the Lord forgave David of his sin in 2 Samuel 12:13, the hidden costs manifested themselves one by one. First, David lost his joy (Ps. 51:12) as he grieved over his sick and dying baby. Then David lost his courage to rebuke his children in their sin: he neither chastised Amnon for the rape of his half sister, Tamar, nor did he punish Absalom for murdering Amnon in retaliation. The adultery and murder David had committed eroded his fatherly authority until it cost him his family—and nearly his throne—as Absalom continued unchecked until he attempted to usurp his father’s crown.
David’s sin also caused the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme (2 Sam. 12:14). And it damaged his reputation. “David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite” (1 Ki. 15:5). David bore the consequences of his sin for the remainder of his life, even though forgiven.
First Kings 3:3 states that Solomon “loved the Lord,” and he purposed to build a house unto the Lord (1 Ki. 5:5). As a young man at the beginning of his reign, his heart was right before the Lord, and God made him the wisest man who ever lived (1 Ki. 3:11f). Surely such a great man needed no warning of the hidden costs of sin? Unfortunately, when he was old, he lusted after—and married—pagan women with ungodly practices. Solomon lost his power with God. His wives turned away his heart after such gods as Ashtoreth, Milcom, Chemosh, and Molech (1 Ki. 11:4-8). As a consequence of his sin, he also lost his peace. The Lord chastised Solomon by stirring up three kings as continual adversaries against him (1 Ki. 11:25). Solomon lost his joy (see Ecclesiastes). Although Solomon came back to the Lord near the end of his life (Eccl. 12:13f), the damage he sustained remained. He lost his reputation among the prophets of God and instead served as an example of what not to do (Neh. 13:24-27).
Solomon’s son Rehoboam was the product of a pagan alliance (2 Chron. 12:13). We read that after he had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, “he forsook the law of the Lord and all Israel followed him” (2 Chron. 12:1). Blinded by self-confidence, he too failed to realize the hidden cost of sin. Rehoboam immediately lost his power. He also lost his courage and was terrified of the imminent destruction of Judah by the Egyptians (2 Chron. 12:2). To his credit, he and his princes “humbled themselves” before the Lord, and God in his mercy did not “destroy him altogether” (2 Chron. 12:6, 12).
Nevertheless, as a result of his transgressions, the Lord’s ministry was damaged when the treasures from the house of the Lord were plundered by the enemy, and Rehoboam also lost his personal riches at the same time (2 Chron. 12:9). He was unable to quickly recover from such financial devastation: the shields of gold which Solomon made in 1 Kings 14:26 were replaced with bronze shields in 2 Chronicles 12:10. We too may finish our lives with “bronze shields” if we’re not careful (1 Cor. 10:12).
Powerful men of God through the ages have ignored the hidden cost of sin. Paul expressed his concern for himself regarding this in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. The spiritual consequences behind these hidden costs are graphically described in James 1:14. Lust conceives and gives birth to a baby called “sin.” This “baby,” however cute, cuddly, and seemingly harmless, grows up to kill a believer’s spiritual testimony. Worldly influences seek to seduce our minds with many forms of lust such as profanity, power, fame, riches, perversions, flirtatious attitudes, and promiscuity—all supposedly without consequences.
Don’t be fooled! Meaningful Bible study, a godly testimony, power from God, ministry opportunities, a solid marriage and family, a fervent prayer life, and close fellowship with the saints are jeopardized if the believer does not take seriously the hidden cost of sin.