Sin and Self-Respect

A few days ago, I was told by a police officer to remove my car from where I was supposed to park because no one was allowed to park there. I looked outside my car window and saw that there was also another car parked along the same area.

I respectfully asked the police officer, “Chief, eh bakit pinayagan niyo po yung isang kotse na yun?” (“Chief, why did you allow that other car to park?”)

The officer sheepishly smiled, “Kotse po yan ni Attorney eh. Attorney ni General.” (“That’s the car of Attorney. The lawyer of the General.”)

“So?” I asked. “Bakit po siya pwede mag-park dyan? Akala ko ba no parking dito?” (“So? Why is he allowed to park? Isn’t this a no parking area?”)

“Si attorney nga po yan sir. Attorney ni General.” (“Because that’s the car of Attorney sir. The lawyer of the General.”)

“Chief,” I replied “Akala ko ba pantay ang batas? Dapat po hindi niyo pinapayagan yan kahit sino pa man siya. Kaya po di tayo umaasenso eh.” (“Chief, I thought the law is fair? You shouldn’t have allowed him to park. It doesn’t matter who he is. That’s the reason why we don’t progress!”)

The officer scratched his head, shrugged his shoulders and said, “Eh hanggang dito na lang po talaga ako sir. Di na talaga ako aasenso.” (“Well, Sir, I will not progress anymore. That’s why this is all I’ll ever reach.”)

More than irritation, the prevailing emotion that I felt was pity. I pitied the police officer who might have been so used to compromising his values that he has completely lost his self-respect.

That’s what sin does. Sin causes one to de-value one’s self. And once a person feels his worthlessness, it becomes easier for him to repeatedly give in to sin.

A vicious cycle.

Sin de-values people. De-valued people sin all the more.

Today, make a decision to break the cycle. How?

Know your real value in the eyes of God.

I remember a true story about a prankster who broke inside a department store in the middle of the night in order to exchange the price tags of the items for sale. The next day was mayhem. A car was sold for the price of a shirt. A shirt was sold for the price of a fridge. Shoes were sold for the price of a bed. Beds were sold for a price of spoon.

In a similar way, that’s what Satan has done. He made us think less than our real value. That’s why it is sometimes easier for us to sell ourselves to temptation. We don’t value ourselves in as much as God values us.

Scriptures says:

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[a] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31)

Friend, you are a child of a King. A prince. A princess. A royalty.

Break the cycle today.

Don’t sell yourself cheap.

[Originally posted in BobbyQuitain.Com.
by Bobby Quitain]