"Your Sin Will Find You Out"

In midst of a financial mess and perhaps on the brink of the largest tax payer bailout in history, one Biblical line came to mind the more this writer thought about how we came to this point in American history: “be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23). As others have correctly said, what has happened to many of our largest financial institutions is not a failure of capitalism nor a failure of the free market system. Rather, plain and simple, it is the failure of people entrusted with a responsibility who instead of fulfilling it with integrity, greedily lined their own pockets with perks and bonuses. The tragedy, no matter what rescue effort is chosen, is that common citizens will suffer.

Failed Responsibility

This failure to uphold one’s responsibility is the context of Moses’ words, “be sure your sins will find you out” (Num. 32:23). As the wilderness wanderings were concluding, the clans of Reuben and Gad did not want to cross over the Jordan River to help the rest of Israel go to war against the inhabitants of Canaan (Num. 32:1-5). Instead, they wanted to settle in the land of Gilead. Both Moses and the Lord were angry over their request. Moses reminded them that this decision would discourage the people and that this same kind of discouragement is what led to the wilderness wanderings in the first place (Num. 32:6-15 cf. Num. 13:27-14:5). Moses, however, compromised with Reuben and Gad, allowing them to settle in Gilead as long as the men would “go armed before the Lord to war....But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:20-23). This is not just saying their sin would be known, but that their sin would be the very agent in bringing about the discovery of their sins (cf. Gen. 4:7)!

 The New Testament contains examples of those who were entrusted with responsibility, but failed and disaster resulted for those individuals. For example, consider the parable of the talents (Mt. 25:14-30). The lord of those servants gave to “every man according to his...ability” (Mt. 25:15), and in so doing, expected each to increase the sum of money entrusted to him. When the one talent man gave an account, he had nothing to show for his talent. “His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant.... Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury” (Mt. 25:26-27). Because he failed the responsibility entrusted him, his lord said, “Take therefore the talent from him....And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mt. 25:28-30).  

Perceived Unaccountability

Consider the unfaithful servant in Luke 12:41-48. Because this servant was given free reign and the master of the house delayed returning, he began to “beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken” (Lk. 12:45). Like the ones who should have been vigilant over the financial institutions, the servant’s perceived unaccountability led him to an indulgence in the flesh (cf. Gal. 5:19-21). However, “The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes” (lk. 12:46-47). Some live as though they do not have to answer to anyone, but sooner or later, we will give an account for all that we do (2 Cor. 5:10).

Conclusion

We have a responsibility to glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17). Let us use our abilities for the Master and not think we won’t be held accountable (Rom. 2:6). May we keep serving “God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Heb. 12:28)!