Prevailing Purpose

I recently heard the children’s fable The Scorpion and the Frog referenced and I had to refresh my memory of the tale. Since I read it through and considered its moral, it has percolated in my mind and become a helpful lens through which I consider our sinful natures.

In the tale, a scorpion comes across and river and needs to travel to the opposite bank. Nearby, he sees a frog and approaches him for help. The frog, recognizing the scorpion as dangerous, refuses. But the scorpion convinces the frog that he is really harmless and has enough self restraint to not sting the frog. Further, he points out that if he were to sting the frog, it would lead to his own detriment. Convinced, the frog allows the scorpion to climb onto his back and the two set out across the river. Halfway through, however, the scorpion can no longer resist, and he stings the frog. As the frog dies and the the scorpion begins to drown, the frog asks why he broke his word. With his final words the scorpion says, “I am sorry, but I couldn’t help it. It is my nature.”

The moral of the fable is the idea that people cannot repress certain instincts, even when it is to their own detriment. In particular, vicious people cannot change even if they want to. As I sat with that lesson, I was grieved at the lack of hope and frustrated at the insinuation that those who have made very poor choices should be avoided rather than helped. But then I began to consider the implications of this moral for all people, including those who have never made what are considered detrimental decisions.

Followers of Christ know Paul’s statement that “no one is righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10) and God’s declaration through Jeremiah that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick” (Jeremiah 17:9). And if these things are true, then we belong to a world of scorpions with no where safe to turn. What is more, we are not the singular, pure of heart frog, but just another scorpion unable to resist self-sabotage.

So if it is inevitable that we will sting and be stung, how are we to live? Should we throw up our hands in surrender and follow the whims of our sinful hearts? Our culture encourages us to do so, but once again scripture has a different answer. Paul asks this same rhetorical question in Romans 6, arguing that we no longer have to obey our sinful natures, but, as those living under grace, we have the strength to resist (Romans 6:1-14).

Consider with me then, three ways to navigate this world of scorpions:

Repent of our sin. When the inevitable happens and we have to face the reality that we have sinned and stung another, we have a choice of how to react to our sin. We can blame-shift and point to others, Satan, or even God as the cause of our behavior, or we can acknowledge our sin before an all-knowing and holy God. 1 John 1:9 is a gracious reminder of our loving God and that when we go before him and repent of our sin, his response is one of mercy.

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Respond to others with grace. While there is a time and place to hold one another accountable for our actions and behaviors, moments after being stung is not often the right moment. Rather than reacting to another’s sin and lashing out in return, we are called to respond by exercising grace and compassion.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Galatians 6:1

Rejoice in Christ. As previously mentioned, when we read this flawed fable, we often place ourselves in the position of the frog, however, it is more appropriate to consider ourselves the scorpion. But even when we are sinned against, we are not the ones bearing the brunt of the attack, Jesus is. And though we certainly receive deep wounds from this world, it is Christ who paid for our guilt and shame, and it is Christ that heals us and transforms us from within.

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

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