Our Trojan Horses

One of the current major movie releases is The Odyssey, which is based on the ancient Greek poem by Homer. The original poem tells the story of the hero Odysseus, who is returning home to Ithaca after the end of the Trojan War. I have not seen the movie (nor do I intend to), but one of the scenes portrays the well-known story of the Trojan Horse.

The story of the Horse takes place near the end of the war, when the Greek attackers built a huge wooden horse, and left it as a gift to the Trojans, who had held off the besieging Greeks for 10 years. Then the Greeks sailed away, apparently abandoning their attack on Troy. The Trojans, who apparently worshiped horses, were delighted with the gift, and rolled it into the city as a gift to the goddess Athena. Then, during the night, Greek soldiers, who had been hiding in the hollow horse, climbed out and opened Troy’s gates, allowing their army to swarm into the city to plunder and destroy it. By this ruse, the Greeks won the war, and Odysseus was free to sail home. This story is also the origin of the saying, “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.”*

So, why would I write a blog about a movie I haven’t seen? Well, this is not about the movie, but about the dangerous practice people have of welcoming dangerous things into their lives. Just like the Trojan Horse, these things appear desirable. They are beautiful, promise great benefits, and seem harmless. So, like the Trojans, we welcome them and draw them into our lives. Like the Trojans, we may even worship them – though not outwardly – but still inwardly. And yet, in spite of our excitement to receive these things, in the end we will suffer personal or spiritual loss because of them.

So, what are some of these modern day “Trojan Horses?”

1. One of the most prevalent ones is wealth. Who wouldn’t like more money? Even when America’s first billionaire, John D. Rockefeller, was asked “How much money does it take to make a man happy?” he replied, “Just one more dollar.” The goal of many people is to win the lottery, believing that will bring them happiness, comfort, and security for life. Yet, for many winners, they end up broke, divorced, or even murdered. On the plus side, they do get to meet many friends and relatives they never knew they had . . . As the Scripture warns us, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:10).

What are some of the evils that the love of money causes? How about cheating on time sheets and taxes, shoplifting, robberies, car-jacking, over-charging, gambling, and hiding expenses or income from a spouse.

In response you may say, “But we need money to survive in this world!” To that Hebrews 13:5 says, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’.” And Jesus himself said, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33). Jesus also said, “You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Why is money a Trojan Horse? Because with the allure of wealth, it brings spiritual ruin.

2. A second “Trojan Horse” is fame. Just because a person becomes famous does not mean they have sinned. The Bible mentions the fame of Joshua, Solomon, Jesus, and God himself. So fame is not the problem: seeking fame is where problems come in.  Fame is linked to pride, seeking glory and honor for oneself instead of for God.

• • • Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.”
    • In Genesis 11:4–9, people wanted to build the Tower of Babel to “make a name for themselves,” which led to God’s judgment.
    • God loves humility over pride: ““Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10).
    • Jesus said, “Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets” (Luke 6:26)

Our attitude toward fame should be that of the Apostle Paul, who wrote in Galatians 1:10, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Amen.

3. Yet another deceptive thing of value is knowledge. We want to know more and more, believing that with knowledge comes wisdom to live a better life. Unfortunately, that was the original temptation that led mankind into sin! What did the snake say to Eve? That if she ate of the forbidden fruit, she would “be like God, knowing good and evil.” He was partly right: she who had known only good, soon learned about evil.

Mankind has always wanted to gain more knowledge. Certainly, we have gained many benefits from seeking knowledge: improvements in health care, food husbandry, science and technology, the ability to harness energy and use materials to enhance our daily lives. But our learning has also given us nuclear bombs, chemical weapons, bio-engineered pathogens (remember COVID, anyone?), and forever-pollutants. We have drained our resources. But most of all, we believe that our science makes us more knowledgeable than God. Have you ever heard anyone say that we know more than the Bible writers did, and therefore we can ignore their words because “they were primitive” in what they knew, but now we know better? But Ecclesiastes 1:18 says, “For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.”

Paul rebuked the Corinthians who thought they knew the truth, saying, they ”  . . possess knowledge. This ‘knowledge’ puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). He warned Timothy (1 Timothy 6:20-21) to “Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so‑called ‘knowledge’ which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith. Instead, we are to seek God, “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

A final warning: Scripture tells us that one of the signs of the coming end of the world is that, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4).

4.  A fourth and very seductive “Trojan Horse” is sensuality. This has to do with physical pleasure, whether comfort, slothfulness, laziness, sexual lust, or gluttony. Whatever appeals to our physical appetites we view as good for us, because they make us “feel good.” While rest is good and needed, it can become the enemy of productive work and exercise. Sex is a gift from God for the blessing of marriage, but our culture is obsessed with it and its various perversions. It comes to us promising enjoyment, while inside is hiding heartbreak, disease, and spiritual death –  Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:8-10, “Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Some of the Old Testament heroes succumbed to sexual temptation: David, who lusted for Bathsheba, committed adultery (the Sixth Commandment) with her, and had her husband killed to cover his sin (Fifth Commandment). And Sampson lost his God-given strength by revealing his secret to Delilah. We are told in 1 Corinthians 6:13, ” The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.”

These four Trojan Horses look desirable, but along with any good benefits, they also can bring disaster. Just as Troy was destroyed, so also our lives can be upended, and our relationship with our God damaged.

So, beside these four Trojan Horses, what other horses can you name that are just waiting for you to take into your life? Power, hobbies, careers, sport stars, celebrity worship, possessions? Any others?

May the Lord protect you from every physical and spiritual danger, and may you look to him for the fulfillment of all your needs!

May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.

Read: Joshua 7:1-5, 2 Samuel 11, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.

*This saying originated in Virgil’s epic poem, The Aeneid, written between 29 and 19 BC, referring to the Trojan Horse.