Profane in Vain

(Proverbs 30:9 KJV)  Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

I am sure you have heard things like, “You are the only Bible some people will ever read” or “You are the only Jesus some people will ever see”.  This verse is reminding us that the actions we take reflect on the God we serve.  Our behavior reflects on God.  Remember that most people, even regular church attenders, rarely read their Bibles.  This is why some wolves-in-sheep’s-clothing that man our pulpits find it so easy to lead God’s people astray.  This is why so many devout believers are so often consumed with minor issues like “KJV only” instead of focusing on the Spirit filled life.  It is why so many who focus on the Spirit filled life get gelded by an infatuation with speaking in tongues and ignore the rest of the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit.

When you give in to sin, here it is stealing, you drag the name of Jesus through the dirt.  I like the phrasing of the KJV where it talks about taking God’s name in vain.  The Hebrew word which the NASB translates “profane” (8610) means to handle like it is common.  It means to treat your grandmother’s 200 year old china like a paper plate.  When we refuse to walk in righteousness it not only imperils our eternity but profanes the eternal.

So?  Even the little sins smudge God’s image to the world around us.  Obviously we cannot really drag God through the mud but we can make Him a mockery to people who need to see Him in His glory.  Live upright.