The Small Print

Staff

On the way back from a Mount Hermon staff retreat, we stopped at a well-known fast food restaurant in the central valley of California. One of the first things we noticed was this health-conscious sign about eating a balanced and nutritious diet. I was fascinated by it, because fast food is not known for its healthy qualities. However, what fascinated me most was the small print at the bottom of the sign. I took a picture of it because I was so shocked it was there in the first place.

This dampened any desire I had to eat there in the first place. All I got was a milkshake…and an epiphany.

Every choice we make in life has a small print warning underneath it. This is one of the many reasons we have been given God’s Word!

When we are tempted to sacrifice our faith in Jesus to date and/or marry someone primarily because of their physical appearance, the warning is: “ A beautiful person who consistently makes bad decisions is a lot like a gold ring in a pig’s snout” (see Proverbs 11:22).
When we find ourselves spending time with people who are leading us away from our faith in Jesus, we are warned: “You become like the people you hang out with” (see Proverbs 13:20).
When we begin to think too much of ourselves and our own abilities, the warning is: “Continued pride is detestable to God and it takes us farther away from Him.” (See Proverbs 16:5).
When we speak in anger trying to provoke an argument, the small print is: “The words of a fool lead to arguments and those arguments could very well lead to a well-deserved beating.” (see Proverbs 18:6).

It’s both funny and disappointing to me that I can often pay more attention to a small print warning at a fast food restaurant than one in the Word of God. My goal over the next few weeks is to approach each decision looking for the warning in small print.

Here’s the cool part–there is ALWAYS a positive side to these warnings. God warns us against certain actions so that we can experience His presence and His grace at a deeper level. Isn’t that the whole point of a warning–to protect us from harm and lead us to a healthier, more fulfilling life?