Compromise

There are two common definitions of the word "compromise"--one is a good one and means you're willing to negotiate with someone else on something minor, instead of being stubborn. 

The other one is bad, and means that you're willing to be lax on your convictions and principles. That's the one we're talking about today. 

Common areas teen girls are tempted to compromise: 

          1. Words/language 

1. Ephesians 4:29 
2. James 3:2-12 
3. Proverbs 16:23-24

Nails in the Fence

There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he said something in anger, to hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his tongue than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn’t say a single angry word. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his tongue.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say ‘I’m sorry’, the wound is still there.”

          2. Guys 

1. 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 (Satan's goal in distracting us with guys is often to steal our TIME...) 
2. 1 Timothy 5:1-2

Little compromises lead to big ones. 

"Anna" was a girl who grew up in church. She memorized Bible verses. She was a "good girl" who wouldn't do many of the bad things that other kids were doing. But she started to compromise just a little bit in the area of guys. She let some little things slip with one boy that she really liked. One thing led to another, and a little while later, she was pregnant. She and the boy got married very quickly, but it was only a little while before they were divorced. 

How did she get from "good church girl" to divorced single mom before she was out of college? Baby steps. 

          3. Modesty 

1. 1 Peter 3:3-4 
2. Proverbs 11:22 
3. Matthew 5:27-28

          4. Media 

1. Psalm 101:3
2. Philippians 4:8 
3. Colossians 3:16 
4. Romans 12:2 

          5. Thoughts 

"Thoughts" underscore all of these areas. We often don't think much about compromising in the area of thoughts, because they're so small and invisible--no one else can see them--but "out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." Our thoughts become our words and actions. And when God looks at our hearts, we see in Matthew 5:21-30 that if our thoughts are wrong, He considers them to be sin. 

1. Philippians 4:4-9 
2. Romans 12:2 
3. 2 Corinthians 10:5 

Ways We Compromise 

1. Self-focus, either negative or positive 
1. Matthew 14:22-33 and Hebrews 12...when we focus on ourselves, we can't accomplish anything...it's when we fix our eyes on JESUS that He works miracles through and in us! 
2. Just being lukewarm (Revelation 3:14-22) 

Why we compromise 

1. It's easier 
2. We don't have to fight 
3. We feel overwhelmed and don't think we can do anything else 

What we're supposed to do instead of compromising 

1. Battle through 
1. Hebrews 10:26 
2. God loves us too much to leave us where we are
2. Rely on the Lord, and He will give us strength 
1. 1 Corinthians 10:13 
2. Have faith and actively trust in Him 
3. Surround ourselves with godly influences, and be aware of negative influences and how they impact our behavior 
1. 2 Timothy 2:22 
4. "Struggles are to be fought through, not surrendered to." -Jael 

Fighting compromise is hardly ever easy. But at the end of the day, it is so worth it! Not only do we see the fruits of God's presence in our lives when we refuse to give in and accept lesser things, but we also get to experience His faithfulness in leading us through temptation. 

He loves us, and He's offering us unimaginable gifts. All we have to do is trust in Him and follow His leading.