MORNING MANNA 8-12-21
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS
I just read a great message – at least it appeared so to me. However, the more I thought about it the less I thought of it. I say that because, although it was ideally suited for some, it assumed too much of others. It was written by a man who had not experienced what he spoke of, which was a problem of others. He was assuming and asserting that they ought to do this and that, although he had not walked in their shoes. That’s a common problem, especially among preachers. We seem to forget that preaching is easier than practicing.
But this isn’t just a preacher problem. We all tend to think that we know what others should be doing, and although we might be right most of the time, we are wrong at other times, and that can cause great harm. We have no right to assume that we know what everyone ought to do. Even when we are dealing with duties clearly defined in the Bible we ought to do so with an awareness that God doesn’t expect the same from everyone. Faithfulness requires different things from different people.
There are many God fearing, God loving, faithful Christians confined to nursing homes and unable to do what others can and should do. But even when it comes to those who walk among us, some have limitations not known to us that prevent them from living up to our expectations. Even though they appear younger, stronger, and healthier, it is not our job to decide what they should do. If they are faking it they will have to answer to God for it, not to us. It isn’t on our God-given to do list for us to decide. That’s God’s business.
People who are struggling with physical problems, emotional trauma, domestic difficulties, etc. need all the encouragement they can get. The last thing they need is for someone who has never walked in their shoes to criticize them for not living up to their expectations. If you truly understood the situation of some folks you would commend them rather than criticize them. Since judging others is not in your job description it is better that you assume they are doing the best they can with what they’ve got. They just might be doing far better than you would do if you were in their shoes. Indeed there are times when constructive criticism is appropriate but we better make sure we are justified in giving it. We don’t always know all the facts and it is unfair to assume that we do. HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
