Thoughts for another day

May 29, 2013.

Today's verse: Matt. 18:7. “Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!" (NIV - copy ack.)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

Today’s Word is a stringent indictment of Jesus upon the things that cause people to sin and more so on the people who cause others to sin.  Think about it, have you caused somebody to sin?  When I think of it myself, I can see so many times I’ve caused others to sin; first of all, my daughter, when I tell her to refrain talking to so and so (because I don’t like those people).  This is how her habit of cutting people off and discrediting them begins.  This sin can go on and become a major stumbling block in having good relations with people, whether Christian or not.  Then again I remember the times when I used to tell my colleagues to not bother when pilfering stuff from the office: So what if you take a small thing, after all aren’t you working here; isn’t it your office too; etc. 

On the face of it when we cause others to do the things they shouldn’t we find the sins so small and insignificant… for example, what’s the big deal if I swipe a stapler from the office for my personal use?  Well, we must know that sin is a sin – whether small or great.  I’e seen people sowing the roots of dishonesty in their children when they are given extra cash by the grocer and the parents tell their children to not mention this and quietly walk away.

See, all the time, when we teach them these things we’re sowing the root of sin in them.  Think: how do our children learn to tell lies?  How do they learn to disobey?  How do they learn to gossip, etc?  They’re all taught by us and then we have the gumption to say, ‘my son, where did he get all these negative traits?’  Jesus casts a woe upon us all who’re conduits of sin for others.  No matter what they are, small or big for sin is a sin and is anathema to God.  It’s man who has made sin look small; but sin is a big blotch before God and He is incensed and He will require an account.  Stop thinking that if I do just this little wrong its okay; rather learn to both, refrain from sinning and causing others to sin.  You will be please Him.