Watch
Your Motives
Whoever
slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty
eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate. – Psalm 101:5
There’s always that one
person. You know who I’m talking about. It’s the one who is constantly
jockeying for position. The one who simply must
be in charge. The one who is convinced that he or she knows more than anyone
else. In Jesus’ name, of course.
It’s almost comical but,
really, it’s just so sad. They miss the opportunity to be part of a team. They
miss the chance to share ideas and, maybe, come up with something even better.
They miss the comradery that comes when you work together to glorify God.
But it’s not about
glorifying God. It’s about being in charge. It’s about looking good. It’s about
me, my, I. It’s about power and ego.
A man began a good
work. He went into the county jail and ministered to the men who were incarcerated
there. How wonderful! It’s what the Bible tells us to do. I want to believe he
was sincere in the beginning. I choose to believe he truly was called and it
really was about Jesus.
But somewhere along the
path, it became about him. “He” saved people. “He” was in charge. I once had a
conversation with him about the ministry. Really, it was more about me
listening and him talking. He never once mentioned Jesus or God or the Holy
Spirit. He didn’t even mention the inmates. All he talked about was himself and
the good he was doing. It was just sad.
A woman took over a
ministry at church. She was certainly qualified on the skill level. It seemed
like a perfect fit. And, in some ways, it is. But it’s not about leading others
to Christ. It isn’t about growing in faith or deepening our relationship with
Him or even each other.
It’s about growing her
business as she constantly invites attendees to her store. It’s about “her”
students and “her” choices. It’s about the pretty baskets and the gossip and
the fun. She’s invited so many people but it’s pretty obvious she hasn’t
invited Jesus. What a wasted opportunity.
Did you pick up on that
word I mentioned? Gossip. Both of these people are all about gossip. They’re
just telling the “facts.” They’re just passing on a prayer request. They’re
just sharing useful “information.” But it’s all the same thing: they’re talking
badly about others in an effort to turn those who listen against someone else
or, at the least, cause others to think badly of someone.
And they’re using Jesus’
name to do it. I know. This is one of my buttons, if you will. Don’t use Jesus
to try and justify your sin. Just don’t. It doesn’t matter if it’s gossip, slander,
looking down on the poor, or being cruel to people who are different. Jesus isn’t
in any of that. He isn’t.
Now that we’ve talked
about someone else – without naming names of course – what do you do when you’re
there with them? Do you ignore it and just do your thing? Do you listen but
refuse to comment? Do you join in because you want to be part of the group?
Peer pressure isn’t limited to adolescents. It’s alive and well among adults.
It’s not easy to call
someone out for gossiping. It’s not easy to refuse to be part of something that
is wrong. Yet that’s what we are called to do. Do you have the strength of
character to tell someone not to talk publicly about another? Or are you too
afraid of what they might say about you behind your back?
The man I mentioned
earlier? Well, God caused him to lose his hearing for a time and he no longer
participates in that ministry. When we behave badly, God will do what He must
to get us back to where He wants us to be. Every time.
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