If You Give A Man A Yard, He'll Not Be Satisfied Till He Has Also Taken The Inch
If you are, as I have confessed to be in previous articles, a big fan of the Andy Griffith Show, you may remember Barney Fife’s argument against giving speeders a 5mph cushion. Deputy Fife warned Sheriff Taylor: “Now Andy, if you let them take 30, they’ll take 35. If you let them take 35, they’ll take 40. If you let them take 40, they’ll take 45. If you let them…”
Despite their comedic intent, these words of Mayberry’s “fearless” deputy are quite depictive of man’s fallen nature. A famous old adage warns: “If you give a man an inch, he’ll take a yard.” It is equally true; however, “If you give a man a yard, he’ll not be satisfied till he has also taken the inch.”
Adam and Eve were free to eat of all of the trees in the Garden of Eden, but they were not satisfied until they ate the fruit of the one forbidden tree. King David had numerous wives and concubines, but he wasn’t satisfied until he took the wife of Uriah the Hittite. King Ahab owned much property, but he wasn’t satisfied until he stole Naboth’s vineyard. On and on we could go about those who have stolen God’s inches, but our point is made and should be well taken.
Although every Christian understands that Christ came to save us from our sins, what many do not understand is that He also came to save us from ourselves (2 Corinthians 5:15). Pogo was right, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Our selfishness is a monster with a ferocious appetite. If we do not turn to Christ in time, we’ll be consumed and devoured by ourselves one inch at a time.
Don Walton
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