It’s Not Hurting Anyone

by Brian Johnson

Samson is one of those people we learn about at an early age. I can still remember seeing pictures of him with his arms stretched out between two pillars at the end of his life. I used to always wonder how he fell into the trap of letting Delilah cut his hair.

He told her his strength could be nullified by tying him with seven new cords that hadn’t been dried, seven new cords that had never been used. Then, he said to weave the seven locks of his hair together, and she did all those things. So, why would he let her know to cut his hair? Surely, he would know she would cut it. I propose he told her because of a combination of pride and overlooking the longsuffering of God.

We know Samson was a Nazarite from birth. According to Numbers 6, that involved no drinking of “wine and strong drink…nor eat moist grapes, or dried” (vs 3), “there shall no razor come upon his head” (vs 5), and “he shall come at no dead body” (vs 6).

We don’t have proof that he drank wine or strong drink, but we know he came at several dead bodies. He killed many men and, in Judges 14:19, he ate honey that he got from the carcass of a dead lion. He gave some to his parents but didn’t tell them where he got it from. According to the Nazarite vow, whenever he came at a dead body, he should’ve shaved his head and performed certain sacrifices, but he never did and didn’t lose his strength until Delilah cut his hair. He never lost his strength any other time he broke the vow. Why should this time be different?

We go through life prideful. We got the success we have solely from hard work or because of our own intelligence. We don’t take the time to recognize God or give Him the glory. John 15:5 says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

Or we continue in sin. Knowingly and willingly. We say things like “no one knows” or “it’s not hurting anyone,” and since there aren’t any immediate consequences, we keep doing the same wrong repeatedly. We forget that we have a God that loves us and is longsuffering. But Numbers 32:23 says, “…be sure your sin will find you out.”

Remember, God always sees and He always knows. As Christians, we shouldn’t want to continue in sin. It hurts our closeness to God and prevents Him from being able to work through us as effectively. You say it’s not hurting anyone but when it prevents the Holy Spirit from working through you, the efforts of your sin are potentially hurting everyone around you. Don’t continue in sin. Repent and allow God to use you. Eventually, your sin will find you out.

About The Author Brian Edward Johnson is a deacon at his church and a nurse by vocation. He wants to do the best he can to teach people to trust God, for their eternity and for each day.