BIBLE PASSAGE:
Jesus said to His disciples: “Things that cause people to sin are
bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.”
(Luke 17:1)
MEDITATION:
Have you ever influenced others to sin? You might say that you
maybe you did before you became a Christian, but not since then.
Is that true?
Before you answer, think of these possibilities:
Has anyone ever been rude to you?
How did it make you feel?
Did it make you angry?
Have you been rude to others?
What do the scriptures say about anger?
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
(Psalm 37:8)
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
(Proverbs 15)
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling
and slander, along with every form of malice.’
(Ephesians 4:31)
But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these:
anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
(Colossians 3:8)
Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray,
lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
(1 Timothy 2:8)
because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
(James 1:20)
If anger doesn’t produce righteousness, then by default it can produce
sin, right? Rudeness can cause others to sin when they react in anger,
either openly or privately as they seethe. We have all probably been on
the receiving end of rudeness from others, haven’t we? And, if so, be
honest and remember the feelings you had at the time. Did it cause
anger to arise in you?
Another question to consider.
Have you ever bragged about what you own or what you have done?
Did you ever think this could cause others to be jealous or covetous?
Jealousy and covetousness are sins that can lead to other sins. What
thoughts do you have when other people start bragging about themselves
and what they have?
Think about this question,
“What motivates others to boast?”
Is it because they think of themselves more highly than others?
What do the scriptures tell us about this kind of thinking?
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
not looking to your own interests but each of you
to the interests of the others.
(Philippians 2:3-4)
What does the Bible say about jealousy?
You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you
cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.You do
not have because you do not ask God.
(James 4:2)
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they
sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him
(Acts 7:9)
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy.
They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped
abuse on him.
(Acts 13:45)
But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad
characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started
a riot in the city.They rushed to Jason’s house in search of
Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.
(Acts 17:5)
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing
and drunkenness,not in sexual immorality and debauchery,
not in dissension and jealousy.
(Romans 13:13)
You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling
among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere
humans?
(1 Corinthians 3:3)
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.
(2 Corinthians 12:20)
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and
debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits
of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness,
orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like
this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
(Galatians 5)
God wants us to be a good influence, and warns us about being a
bad influence. There’s no doubt what Jesus meant when He said,
“Things that cause people to sin are bound to come,
but woe to that person through whom they come”
We live in a sin-cursed world, and the opportunities for sin surround
us every day. Jesus knew that some people influence others to sin and
wanted us to understand that when we do, we will suffer consequences
for what we have done.
You might think of only the ‘big’ and obvious sins that cause others sins
and miss the possibility that you can cause others to sin in many other ways.
You can disrespect others through rudeness, creating jealousy or covetousness
by boasting, participating in and encouraging gossip, causing dissension within
the church body, and a multitude of ‘smaller’ (but just as wrong) sins.
Woe to the pornographers, abortionists, bar owners, etc. but woe to us
when we cause others to sin. Those who belong to the Lord are set apart
for a purpose which includes doing what the Lord has enabled us to do
when He gave us our Spiritual gift, and avoiding any thoughts, words,
or actions which could cause someone else to sin.
ACTION:
Are there ways that you are influencing others to sin? What changes
do you think you should make in order to encourage others (which
can lead to righteousness), instead of discouraging them through
rudeness or boasting (which can cause them to sin)? Ask yourself
this question:
“Will I commit to making changes which will
cause me to be more like Jesus, and will not
result in causing others to sin?”
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me that the way
I live my daily life and the attitudes I have, can cause others
to sin. Forgive me for the times my personality and lifestyle
have caused others to sin. Fill me with the Holy Spirit so that
I will be under His righteous control, instead of my selfish and
unrighteous control. I now realize that all I think, do and say
have failed to allow the Holy Spirit to filter everything. Show
me where I have been causing others to sin, and help me commit
to give control of these areas to the Holy Spirit. Help me to be
more like Jesus.”
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