The 'Second-Hander Syndrome'- Unable To Stand Alone!

And Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?" And Aaron said, ‘You know the people that they are set on evil.’ For they said to me, 'Make us gods… So I said to them, 'Let any who have gold take it off.' So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf"… (For Aaron had let them break loose). (Ex. 32:21-25 [ESV]) Poor, poor Aaron the brother of Moses. His brother had left him alone in the midst of such an evil people and he had to give them what they wanted for fear of his own safety. Aaron says, “Don’t be mad at me, it’s this wicked people’s fault that the golden calf was erected and worshipped instead of God. Aaron had no choice but to give to the people what they wanted. If Israel had been a democracy at that time instead of a theocracy, Aaron might have run against his brother Moses for the leadership of this nation and won it in a landslide. Moses stood firmly for what was true and honored God, and Aaron stood for whatever seemed good to others. He gave into the people of Israel quicker than they could say, “golden calf”. He had what I now call the 'second-hander syndrome' (though this label is not my invention)—living off of the second hand values of others, whether that was the general consensus of the people one day, or the values of his sister the next day, or even the values of his God-honoring brother on a different occasion. Aaron was a second-hander! He acquiesced to the standards of others. This is a common syndrome among young people, and even politicians who need to pander to others at all costs. But what about us? Will we live as second-handers today swallowed up by the culture that surrounds us (in or out of the church), or will we stand simply for what is true—according to values that promote truth and honor God (the absolute foundation of all truth)? God is not honored by Post-modern relativism or cunning political correctness. Rather Jesus said, “Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven…” (Lk.6:22-23a [NJKV]) The second-hander cannot fathom the thought of being reviled by or excluded from others, but the one who honors God will sometimes have to face the cruelty of this for the sake of Jesus glory and the attainment of their highest joy! So I encourage you to set yourself to it and prepare yourself for it today. Don’t be a second-hander embittered by your bondage to other’s values and standards, but be earnest for your greatest joy in valuing Jesus (the way, the truth, and the life- Jn.14:6) above everything! And may God keep you for His glory by His grace!