“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. 1 Corinthians 10:23&24
Sometimes I look around, and I see things that anger me. I see things I am doing, or ways I am thinking and need to fall to my knees once again. I see people hurting and I see nobody there to lift them up. I hear slander and gossip, I see so many pointing fingers and constantly searching for flaws. What are we creating by doing this? What do we hope to accomplish? Why do we constantly allow the urge of revenge to well up and take over our conscience?
It's so easy to put the blame on someone else for the way you are feeling. It's so easy to just blast another for the wrongs they have done, but what really happens is self destruction. We don't need to constantly rake through others lives to find the blood diamonds that stain their lives, we have plenty of our own. We should be constantly sifting through our own motives and finding the imperfections we need to improve on. We should be lifting up each other in prayer even if we don't agree with a particular person's standing. As we lift them in prayer, we're asking God to humble and heal us, and for His will to be done.
As we go about our lives, we need to be aware of our actions and words. There comes a time in Christian maturity where we "know better". Out of all the things that have come to pass, what bothers me the most is how we, as the examples we're supposed to be, have handled ourselves. We have thrown each other in to the pits, and laughed as we walk away, gloating of our supposed accomplishment. We have slandered and gnarled our teeth, we have lied and raised fists. Brothers and sisters, this has greatly affected those younger in faith. It has taught them to be hardened against the beauty of newness and hate growth that change brings. It has made us look no different than a group of drunkards brawling at a tailgate party. It's shameful and disappointing.
We are not gaining a gold star because we are finding wrong in others. We are not doing ourselves good by stepping on our brother or sister to make ourselves a pedestal. Be aware of how you perceive others, and do your best not to influence your opinion up on some one else. If someone wrongs you, sure call them out on it, but follow the protocol that was given to us in Matthew 18. Words are so easily spilled to intensify a problem, but it takes good character to conduct them to rectify one.
Think about it, it takes more effort to pull a trigger, than to hold out your hand in a peace offering.
Love in Christ <><
19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.- 2 Corinthians 12:19-21
