Benefits to Sin?

I don't often have an "A HA" moment when I read scripture. Sure I continually learn new things and am challenged by Scripture, but rarely do I jump out of my chair screaming, "That was brilliant! I've never thought of that before!"

I'm reading through Romans right now and in Chapter six verse, twenty-one Paul asks a simple question that for me, became profound. "What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?" Have you ever had one of those moments when you're arguing with yourself, telling yourself that you're about to do is wrong and I shouldn't do it but at the same time you convince yourself to do it anyways (if you're picturing the little devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other you're right on track!)? Only after you committed the sin do you then feel horrible and are ashamed of what you have done. This is what Paul is talking about and he follows it up with a great question. He asks, What was the benefit? did you get anything out of it? Are you a better person, do you feel better about yourself, are you at peace now, is everything right in the world again because of your sin? Obviously the answer is no.

When I think back through all my favorite sins (everyone has their favorite sins, its the ones that seem to always repeat over and over again) I realized I've never really benefited from them at all. The only thing I have ever gotten out of sinning was losing my self-control and distancing myself from God. Both of which really aren't beneficial.

Paul concludes chapter six of Romans by saying "But now that you have become set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. " - Amen.