Fickle Men
What causes men to be fickle?
False Expectations. In 2 Ki 9:11-13 the captains of the host thought the man of God was a “mad fellow”. They thought what he said was “false”. But how quickly these fickle men changed their minds when they heard that he had anointed Jehu as king.
Often, people you know or to whom you witness think of you as an odd ball for believing the Bible and preaching the gospel. They have in their mind that the Bible isn’t really true and, thus, they are quick to dismiss you. But when they realize that the Book is true and that Jesus is the King and that he will indeed save them, some will come around and get saved. Suddenly, you go from being the mad fellow to the hero.
Peer Pressure. In Matt 21:8-9 the multitude was shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David”. This is the title of their Messiah. Yet, just a few days later, the multitude was shouting “Let him be crucified”, Matt 27:22, and, in v.25, “his blood be on us and our children”.
These fickle men changed their “tune” in a matter of days because of the influence of the mob, stirred up by the chief priests and elders. The mob is usually wrong. The broad way leads to destruction. This can help you understand why people who are so confidently for you can become so adamantly against you in a matter of days.
Deceitful lusts. In 2 Sam 13:1-4, Amnon loved Tamar so much he was lovesick. But in verse 15 he hated her more than he had loved her. Men are fickle when it comes to love. They are easily deceived by their lusts.
Just because he says he loves you, doesn’t mean he will. Paul wrote, “Put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts”, Eph 4:22.
Rebellion. In Ps 106:11, 13 Israel went through affliction and then they cried. You see this pattern throughout Ps 106 and throughout the history of Israel. Their relationship with God was a roller coaster of affliction and deliverance.
Fickle men rebel against the words of God when the pleasure of sin increases and the pain of consequences is low. But when the consequences of sin increase and the pleasure diminishes, they will often cry out to God.
Conclusion: God is not fickle. His love for you is solid. He so loved the world… No matter how far gone a sinner is, Jesus loved him enough at Calvary to save his soul today. And those he saves he loves unconditionally. His covenant with Israel is proof that he is not fickle, Mal 3:6.
To help you not be fickle, don’t do the things we discussed above. And put on charity which is the bond of perfectness, Col 3:14. Like Peter said, “above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins”, 1 Pet 4:8. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, Rom 5:5.