The other day, I came across a post on social media that struck a deep chord within me. It led me to revisit a verse I've read countless times before, but this time, God revealed something I had never fully considered. Judges 14:9 says:
"And he [Samson] took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion."
When you read the full story of Samson's life, a troubling pattern emerges—he was more interested in honey than holiness. He preferred sweetness to sanctity, pleasure to purity. Time and time again, he chose what satisfied his desires in the moment rather than what honored God. From his unlawful marriage to a Philistine woman to his reckless pursuit of Delilah, Samson was ruled by what pleased him rather than by what was right. His strength was a gift from God, yet his weakness for temporary pleasure became the very thing that destroyed him.
The honey in Judges 14 was just the beginning. He saw something forbidden, yet he reached for it anyway. He didn't pause to ask if it was right, if it was pure, or if it would draw him closer to God. He only cared that it tasted good. As a Nazarite, Samson was supposed to avoid anything unclean, yet he took honey from a dead lion's carcass, defiling himself in the process. Worse, he gave some to his parents without telling them where it came from, showing that he knew it was wrong but didn't care.
How many of us do the same? How often do we make decisions based solely on what feels good in the moment without considering the long-term consequences? Samson's story is not just history—it's a warning. What we chase will eventually shape our destiny.
Many today are just like Samson. We don't ask if something is holy; we only want to know how much pleasure is in it. How often do people ignore God's warnings because something feels good, looks good, or satisfies a craving? Courtships, friendships, entertainment, and ambitions—so many are drawn to the "honey" without considering the carcass it's coming from.
The enemy is crafty. He knows we wouldn't willingly drink poison, so he serves it with sweetness. He disguises compromise as a harmless indulgence, making it easy for us to take small steps away from God's best. But what seems small and inconsequential now will lead to tragic endings.
It may start with something as simple as accepting a watered-down version of the Bible—that changes keywords and strips away the full depth of God's Light preserved in the authorized King James Bible. It could be trading the rich, doctrine-filled hymns for the shallow repetition of modern contemporary Christian music, which often mimics the world more than it glorifies God. Or perhaps it's failing to guard our eyes and ears, mindlessly consuming TV sitcoms, YouTube videos, or social media content that seems harmless but is laced with ungodly influences. Sometimes, it's allowing what seems like an innocent friendship to grow too close—one that begins with casual conversation but slowly drifts into emotional attachment, ultimately leading to fornication. Little compromises like these gradually dull our senses and make room for darkness to creep into our hearts.
How many broken hearts, shattered homes and devastated lives could have been spared if small compromises had been rejected instead of embraced? Like Samson, we often reach for what seems sweet without considering the cost. The choices we make—what we watch, what we listen to, and the friendships we entertain—shape the direction of our lives. It's easy to justify subtle indulgences, whether tolerating a diluted version of Scripture, accepting worldly influences in our worship, or allowing inappropriate relationships to take root. But these small steps away from holiness always lead somewhere. No matter how small, every compromise draws us closer to God or pulls us further out of His will. The enemy's bait is always sweet at first, but it always leads to sorrow.
But here's the hope: we don't have to partake in defiled honey. We don't have to settle for temporary sweetness at the cost of long-term destruction. God calls us to something greater—something that lasts. Holiness—God's right way of things—may not always seem appealing at first, but it brings lasting peace, understanding, and closeness with God that no shallow gratification can ever match.
Thank God for His restoration when we repent and mercy when we've gone astray and returned to His right ways. But wouldn't it be better to avoid the pain altogether? Wouldn't it be better to choose holiness before the sweetness fades and we realize the cost?
So, I ask you: are you chasing honey, or are you chasing holiness?
RETURN TO ALL BLOGS
"And he [Samson] took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion."
When you read the full story of Samson's life, a troubling pattern emerges—he was more interested in honey than holiness. He preferred sweetness to sanctity, pleasure to purity. Time and time again, he chose what satisfied his desires in the moment rather than what honored God. From his unlawful marriage to a Philistine woman to his reckless pursuit of Delilah, Samson was ruled by what pleased him rather than by what was right. His strength was a gift from God, yet his weakness for temporary pleasure became the very thing that destroyed him.
The honey in Judges 14 was just the beginning. He saw something forbidden, yet he reached for it anyway. He didn't pause to ask if it was right, if it was pure, or if it would draw him closer to God. He only cared that it tasted good. As a Nazarite, Samson was supposed to avoid anything unclean, yet he took honey from a dead lion's carcass, defiling himself in the process. Worse, he gave some to his parents without telling them where it came from, showing that he knew it was wrong but didn't care.
How many of us do the same? How often do we make decisions based solely on what feels good in the moment without considering the long-term consequences? Samson's story is not just history—it's a warning. What we chase will eventually shape our destiny.
Many today are just like Samson. We don't ask if something is holy; we only want to know how much pleasure is in it. How often do people ignore God's warnings because something feels good, looks good, or satisfies a craving? Courtships, friendships, entertainment, and ambitions—so many are drawn to the "honey" without considering the carcass it's coming from.
The enemy is crafty. He knows we wouldn't willingly drink poison, so he serves it with sweetness. He disguises compromise as a harmless indulgence, making it easy for us to take small steps away from God's best. But what seems small and inconsequential now will lead to tragic endings.
It may start with something as simple as accepting a watered-down version of the Bible—that changes keywords and strips away the full depth of God's Light preserved in the authorized King James Bible. It could be trading the rich, doctrine-filled hymns for the shallow repetition of modern contemporary Christian music, which often mimics the world more than it glorifies God. Or perhaps it's failing to guard our eyes and ears, mindlessly consuming TV sitcoms, YouTube videos, or social media content that seems harmless but is laced with ungodly influences. Sometimes, it's allowing what seems like an innocent friendship to grow too close—one that begins with casual conversation but slowly drifts into emotional attachment, ultimately leading to fornication. Little compromises like these gradually dull our senses and make room for darkness to creep into our hearts.
How many broken hearts, shattered homes and devastated lives could have been spared if small compromises had been rejected instead of embraced? Like Samson, we often reach for what seems sweet without considering the cost. The choices we make—what we watch, what we listen to, and the friendships we entertain—shape the direction of our lives. It's easy to justify subtle indulgences, whether tolerating a diluted version of Scripture, accepting worldly influences in our worship, or allowing inappropriate relationships to take root. But these small steps away from holiness always lead somewhere. No matter how small, every compromise draws us closer to God or pulls us further out of His will. The enemy's bait is always sweet at first, but it always leads to sorrow.
But here's the hope: we don't have to partake in defiled honey. We don't have to settle for temporary sweetness at the cost of long-term destruction. God calls us to something greater—something that lasts. Holiness—God's right way of things—may not always seem appealing at first, but it brings lasting peace, understanding, and closeness with God that no shallow gratification can ever match.
Thank God for His restoration when we repent and mercy when we've gone astray and returned to His right ways. But wouldn't it be better to avoid the pain altogether? Wouldn't it be better to choose holiness before the sweetness fades and we realize the cost?
So, I ask you: are you chasing honey, or are you chasing holiness?
RETURN TO ALL BLOGS
