by Debbie Wilson
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9 NIV
“When you think of temptation, what comes to your mind?” I asked the group.
“Fun!” one lady squealed. We laughed as images of our favorite pleasures danced through our minds. But, for the wise, “run” is a better response.
We don’t usually associate love with hate. But Paul’s words in Romans 12:9 remind us that sincere love abhors evil. The word for hate in the original language combines two parts. One part means to shudder with disdain, to utterly detest. The other means to have distance, separation, or cessation.
The Greek language uses different words to convey the nuances of the meaning of evil. The word used in this verse does not mean evil in essence, but detrimental in effect, or harmful.
These definitions provide an excellent tool for evaluating toys, people, activities, and opportunities. Something that is harmful to me may not be a temptation or destructive to you.
Credit cards are convenient and provide a way to keep track of spending, but for some people they provide the temptation to spend money they don’t have. Are credit cards evil? According to this verse, that depends on how they affect us. If they harm us or someone we love, we’d do well to put them away.
This principle also applies to video games. For some, playing a game with a friend is a fun way to connect. But for others, playing video games isolates them and brings out aggressive behavior.
We must ask, does playing this game have a negative impact on the one playing it or on those they love? Does it tempt me or my child to spend time playing when they should be invested elsewhere? If involvement with the games cause important areas to suffer, we need to “hate” them.
How about the people in our lives? Are my children more rebellious or better behaved after spending time with these friends? How does this person affect my values, beliefs, and contentment? What impact do these toys, music, habits, books, movies—you get the idea—have on me?
Sincere love separates from harmful influences and stops destructive behavior.
The verse finishes with the positive. Sincere love clings to what is good. The word cling means to glue together. The inspired word for good means “good in essence, pleasing to God, morally honorable and beneficial in effect.” It can also mean pleasant, happy, and upright (in other words—fun!).
God and His word are beneficial and good in essence (Ps. 118:1; 119:39, Mark 10:18). Clinging to its teaching provides a beneficial and happy life.
Would you like to protect yourself and loved ones from unnecessary harm? Use Romans 12:9 to evaluate toys, people, activities, and gray areas in your life.
When we walk in genuine love, we won’t see how close we can get to the edge of temptation and not fall in. We’ll see evil and run to God and enjoy real fun.
This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).
About the author: Debbie W. Wilson is an ordinary woman with an extraordinary God. Drawing from her personal walk with Christ, twenty-four years as a Christian counselor, and decades as a Bible teacher, Debbie writes and speaks to connect sojourners to the heart of Christ. She and her husband Larry founded Lighthouse Ministries, a nonprofit ministry offering life and relationship counseling and Bible studies. Despite time in Boston, the Midwest, and Southern California, she still says y’all. Her family, which includes two mischievous standard poodles, calls North Carolina home. Find free resources to refresh your faith and connect with Debbie at debbieWwilson.com.
Join the conversation. How do you evaluate your choices?
Arise DAILY Devos 
Very good insights, Deb! Thank you for those words to live by.
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Helpful description of evil and cling. Thank you.
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