Come out, Come out, Wherever You Are...

Dangerous was a strong word, but I’m teachable. My questions started with the wise friend and expanded to the heavenlies. How could this be? How could she, who was a bit naïve, be complicit in their duplicity? How could she be dangerous?

Well, the wise friend explained that she was dangerous because her pride would not enable her to admit that she, too, had made an error in judgment about these people. The other scenario was that she potentially knew that these people were deceptive in their practices, and simply did not tell me, which would make her complicit and severely dangerous. I remembered her reaction to the news that the guy she introduced me to had deceived me in business, and essentially, she said that he had not done that to her (making it okay, I guess), and boasted about being shrewd in business, implying that I was not. Therein was my first clue to her character, something I’d obviously missed.

My wise friend also shared that this woman derived some pleasure from their company. She had something to gain from being around Bible-quoting, smiling and soft-spoken – having a form of godliness yet denying the power – deceitful people. Though I couldn’t think of anything immediately, the verse about silly women being carried away by their own lusts returned to my memory. Isn’t that the origins of all sinful behavior, the lusts of our hearts? She often made certain sacrifices to receive whatever pittance of prosperity these folks threw in her path; essentially, she prostituted herself – her dignity, her gifts, and me by turning a deliberate blind eye to their not-so godly characters.

The Apostle Peter stated, “By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:4, Holman)

Borrowing an expression from my beloved grandmother, “She sold me for a nickel,” I said to my wise friend. And my wise friend concurred, offering more advice.