“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,When it is in your power to do it.” (Proverbs 3:27).
Sunday School teachers would do well to have a list of the mean people in the Bible on there classroom wall. Then the poor victims of bullies, liars, thieves, and wreckers would take comfort in knowing that God speaks up for them.Mean people are neither made nor born that way. They are enabled!To say that there are easy answers to dealing with the incessantly mean is to add to the problem. They are experts at making everyone participants in their spitefulness. Nothing is their fault and everyone else will just have to agree.Nabal nearly cost his wife, Abigail, and everyone else on the property their lives because of his stinginess toward David’s men.James condemns the rich Christian farmers for withholding wages from their workers.Jesus makes it plain that neglecting the needs of others is neglecting him. Eternal wrath is inevitable.Unless a child is carefully taught fairness and generosity, he will mimic the selfishness of those left to themselves. Why would a Christian deliberately ‘withhold the good that is due’? Good question.Christians can easily fall into the trap of believing they know best. They withhold goodwill, or any manner of things needed, in the name of ‘assuring someone is on the right path.’ This behaviour can become endemic in a congregation, and a mean spirit can rule in the name of ‘doing things decently and in order.’ You need to purge this from your heart and Christian service. Christ teaches us to be givers, to even allow ourselves to be defrauded in some circumstances, to go the extra mile, and to turn the other cheek. Being like this, we will change the world for Christ.John StaigerIf you have been blessed by this message, please feel free to: Like, Comment or Share it with your friends.
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