Wednesday, 11 August 2021
Principles for Proving
The Wedge Principle

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)
Introduction
• God requires that we examine all that we plan to do, sift it through the grid of the Bible, hold fast all that is good, and
abstain from all that fails God’s test.
• Many situations in life are not clearly addressed in the Bible. However, the Bible has numerous principles that reveal
God’s mind on every questionable topic. Our job is to find those Bible principles and apply them.
• Remember, these principles are not rules but tools to help you.
• Tonight we are going to study the Wedge Principle. (Romans 13:14) “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make
not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
The meaning of the Wedge Principle
• What is a wedge?
– A wedge is something that forms a crack and opens the crack wider as it advances.
– As a teenager, I often used a wedge or a wedge axe when splitting wood. As I drove the wedge deeper into the wood, the split got larger.
– A wedge makes something small get bigger.
• What then is the wedge principle?
– In a spiritual sense, a wedge is any activity that may seem harmless when small but could open the “crack” to something much worse.
– A wedge may lead to temptation, to a sinful habit, to a destructive path, to regret, etc.
Applying the Wedge Principle to an Activity
• Ask yourself if this activity could be a wedge.
– Could my involvement in this activity take me further than I ought to go?
– Could this activity become a habit or addiction that would be sinful?
• Identify any potential bad results of this activity.
– Are there any sins to which it could lead.
– Let’s take alcohol for example. What are some of its potentially wedges?
– Addiction
– Waste of family income
– Ungodly words or behaviour
– Bad testimony before family or unbelievers
• If you find that this activity may become a wedge, admit in your heart that it is a dangerous activity.
•
Applying the Wedge Principle to an Activity
• Avoid every wedge activity
– If an activity may become a wedge that could lead you into greater involvement that would be harmful or sinful, then you should avoid the
activity.
– God does not want us to think we are strong enough to keep the wedge from opening the crack.
– (1 Corinthians 10:12) “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
•
Consider Several Practical Examples
• Could this friend hurt my walk with God?
– (1 Corinthians 15:33) “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
• Could this substance become a habit or addiction?
– It could be drinking a glass of wine, social beer, smoking a cigarette, an illegal drug, etc.
– (1 Peter 2:11) “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;”
• Could unfiltered Internet lead to a pornography addiction?
– Many good men have fallen. Filters on phones and computers are wonderful protections. I use Qustodio.
– (Psalms 101:3) “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: …”
Consider Several Practical Examples
• Could this enjoyment take me further than God wants me to go?
– For example, young couples holding hands and kissing.
– (1 Corinthians 7:1) “Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote
unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.”
– Evangelist Rich Touzer was right when he said, “These may seem
harmless, but they never satisfy!”
– (Ephesians 5:3-4) “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or
covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not
convenient: but rather giving of thanks.“
Consider Several Practical Examples
• Could this viewing callous my heart or my child’s heart?
– A callous is a slowly formed tough surface that loses sensitivity.
– It may be watching a video that has just a few swear words, just a little immodesty, just a little smoking, or just a little gambling.
– It may be playing violent video games or games with demonic characters.
– (Proverbs 28:14) “Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.”
• Could this questionable activity lead my children astray?
– It may be telling questionable jokes, attending a questionable party, wearing clothing that is borderline immodest, going to the cinema,
swimming at the public beach, etc.
– Another great quote from Brother Touzer is “What parents allow in moderation, their children tend to excuse in excess.”
–
Consider Several Practical Examples
• Could this choice open the door to sin?
– Being alone in a car with the opposite gender (other than your spouse or kids) is not wise!
– Skyping or texting with the opposite gender about intimate things is not wise.
– (Romans 13:14) “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
• Could this carelessness lead to a long-lasting regret?
– Being a lenient or soft parent, allowing a child to get away with disobedience leads to BIG problems.
– (Proverbs 29:15) “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”
Consider Several Practical Examples
• Could this neglect make me cool off spiritually?
– It may be missing church once in a while, skipping Bible reading
occasionally, not praying regularly.
– (Proverbs 28:9) “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”
• Could this thought lead to a wicked sin?
– A preacher once said, “If you think about something long enough, eventually you will do it.” Dirty thoughts are dangerous!
– (Proverbs 23:7) “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
– (Mark 7:21-22) “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness,
wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:”
What should we do about Wedge Activities?
• Truly desire to glorify God in all that you do.
• Ask the Lord for wisdom in identifying wedge activities.
• Make a list of your activities that may be wedge activities.
• Willingly avoid all potentially wedge activities.
• It is better to be safe than sorry!
Conclusion
Solomon wrote, “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”
(Proverbs 22:3)
The Wedge Principle will help you be prudent if you will use it.