Karma or Christ?

Proverbs 28 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Warnings and Instructions

The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion…
³ A poor man who oppresses the lowly Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.
⁴ Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But those who keep the law strive with them.
⁵ Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the Lord understand all things.
⁶ Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich.
⁷ He who keeps the law is a discerning son, But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father. ⁸ He who increases his wealth by interest and usury Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor. ⁹ He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. ¹⁰ He who leads the upright astray in an evil way Will himself fall into his own pit,
But the blameless will inherit good…
¹³ He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. ¹⁴ How blessed is the man who fears always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity…
²⁵ An arrogant man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will prosper. ²⁶ He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered. ²⁷ He who gives to the poor will never want, But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.

Many people believe in karma, that a person’s destiny or fate will be affected by or be a result of their actions. Karma is a spiritual principle which affects the physical. The saying “what goes around comes around” is another way of expressing the idea of karma. The word karma itself is based on a principle of the Hindu religion, but it has been adapted and accepted into many other religious and non-religious streams of thought. For those who believe in karma, it can be a good influence in their lives, motivating them to treat others well and to do what is good and right so that they in turn are treated well and have good things happen to them. What is ironic is that many of the people who believe in the idea of karma, reject the same principle in God’s word. They reject the idea that there would also be natural and spiritual consequences based on how we live in relation to the standards of the God of creation. They will believe in a universal spiritual power, while rejecting the idea that the creator of the universe would also have a cause and effect principle. They argue that if there is a God, He would not allow people to suffer.

The Bible is filled with examples of this same principle, natural and spiritual consequences for actions. In Deuteronomy 11:26-28 God says:  “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.”   Galatians 6:7-9 says:    Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.      The scriptures, God’s word are filled with examples of this cause and effect principle, the truth that there are both natural and spiritual consequences for our actions and the decisions we make.

Proverbs is filled with these examples, comparing what is good and righteous to what is unrighteous and describing the different outcomes of those actions and decisions. Verse 4, in today’s text says:   Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But those who keep the law strive with them.       We have experienced a continuing shift in our society and culture. There is a constant effort by some to continue to move the lines of morality. This is not a matter of what people choose to do with their own lives, but rather a continuing effort to change what is viewed as right, what is to be accepted by everyone as normal. God speaking through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 5:20 says:   Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!      Society and culture can move the lines of its accepted morality but that doesn’t change the line God has drawn. There is a consequence, a natural and spiritual consequence for those who continue to change and move what is right. God says: Woe to those. Verse 10, in today’s text says:  He who leads the upright astray in an evil way Will himself fall into his own pit, But the blameless will inherit good      Jesus says: “If a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit." (Matthew 5:14) and in verse 19 of Matthew 5, He says:  “Whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”      Consequences for actions; cause and effect, what goes around comes around, karma…

Verses 13,14 and 25,26 in today’s text say:     He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. How blessed is the man who fears always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity…
An arrogant man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will prosper. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.       Jeremiah 17:9 says: "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”    Again God’s word is filled with examples of the natural and spiritual consequence for the actions and decisions of man. Without a doubt the most important, the most significant cause and effect consequence for the actions of people is described in Romans 6:23:     The wages of sin is death.    The consequence for sin is death. If we go around in sin, we will come around to death. Spiritual and physical death is the effect caused by sin. It is what we deserve. The doubters and deniers will say:  How or why would a good and loving God cause people to die for their actions and decisions?    The answer, the truth is He didn’t and He doesn’t. Romans 6:23 continues:   but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 5:8 says: God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.     Jesus says:  “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”     God gives us another choice, another outcome for our actions. We can choose what we deserve, the natural and spiritual consequences for our actions or we can choose to believe in Christ and receive a better consequence than we deserve.

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. How blessed is the man who fears always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity…   If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)   It’s up to you. It’s up to each individual to choose, karma or Christ.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit thank You for the simplicity and truth of Your word. Thank You for spelling out for us the consequences, the blessing or curses we ourselves can choose for our lives. Most of all thank You, that because none of us are able to fully live according to Your standard of righteousness, rather than have us get what we deserve, You paid the price for us. I choose Christ. Thank You for blessing me rather than allowing me to be cursed.   Amen