The Troubles We Create

The Troubles We Create 

by David Brenneman 

Was reading in the Old Testament of the end of King David's life and his final words to now King Solomon.  

I have actually seen those types of sentiments in people throughout my life.  People not acting on what they should concerning others, be it family etc, because of their own past. 

Indeed one such phrase of "I can't say anything because I did something like that too...".  

So it's a rational thought to allow people we say we care about to go somewhere in life that's not a Godly path to be on?

I have seen marriages be torn apart because of thoughts of not saying anything when something should have been said. 

King David hadn't ruled against several people until he was about to die, when there likely was nothing anyone could do about it.  The problem is, it shouldn't have mattered.  God was still God and a righteous judgment is still a righteous judgment. 

We allow so much in our lives that shouldn't be there because of our feelings on the behavior of others.  We allow sinful ways to perpetuate because of keeping our mouths shut when we should confront sin. The truth of God’s Word exposes the deeds of darkness.  

It's a terrible thing to allow someone we care about, to head for a cliff and not warn them ahead of time.

We ought to be guided by the Spirit in all truth, as the Bible says He’s here to do. To disregard His teaching or His revealing of where to go and what to do, is honestly and actually sin.

He who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, sins. James 4:17.

Another area is being wishy-washy. Again, what does the Bible say?  Matthew 5:37 NASB "But make sure your statement is, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil origin."  

How about this: "Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16 NASB 

Or on the treatment of family... "Or what person is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? So if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:9-11 NASB 

We often see people literally bribing their offspring with gifts to get good behavior out of them.  The Bible on this says something about sparing the rod and spoiling the child. A paraphrase of Proverbs 13:24 NASB "He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently."  This isn't in regards to punishment but in regards to learning how to cultivate a life with boundaries. 

We indeed cause so many to struggle in their lives by not being a Godly example and by being silent because of lingering personal guilt over our own past offenses. 

I have observed at least one key thing about the Old Testament. There's a lot in it as examples of what not to do. King Solomon as wise as he was, got to the point of not listening to wisdom and sinned as much if not more than the others in Israel.  He had the power to do so much good yet allowed sinful practices from practically day 1 of his reign.  Setting up a throne for the mother of the king.

We either learn from the past or ignore it and are doomed to repeat it in the future. 

We also need to take care in who we choose to hate because it's those people we will become the most like. 

I get a gnawing, nauseating feeling when I read of people who ought to know better in Christ yet stay silent when it's clear that they ought to speak up in the Lord.

I am reminded of Jesus's words of the Jewish Leaders.  Blind leading the blind. 

Are there areas if your life that you aren't dealing with due to your own residual guilt over past sins?  If indeed you confessed them and do believe you are forgiven of them, why would you allow those you care about to make the same mistakes as you?

Ephesians 5:11-17 NASB "Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”

So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

1 Thessalonians 4:3a NASB "This is the will of God, your sanctification".

What is sanctification? "the action of making or declaring something holy".

The Spirit guides us into all truth...to make us Holy as He is Holy. 

We know Colossians 3:23-25 NASB "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of ⁽the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality."

In our daily walk with Jesus, it's always important to make the Bible your primary knowledge base. Be careful of getting wrapped up in head knowledge from people and books outside of it.  The Heavens are occupied by Children of God and Angels. Not Denominations and Angels.  Our lives are to be that of Christ followers. Of being found to be His Disciples. 

It's going to hurt when we need to speak up to guide others in God's truth sometimes.  Keeping silent because of our own past is not going to help others to be on a path of righteousness.  The discipline Proverbs spoke of earlier has to do with imparting the positive wisdom learned from generation to generation. 

I had a very clear object lesson in this myself.  Several decades ago I was in an accident caused by black ice.  AFTER I had it, my Dad told me what I could have done to avoid it. I do remember telling him that that information would have been most helpful BEFORE I had the accident. 

I often find myself praying for me to do better in life today than I did yesterday. I pray this often for others as well.

Please don't allow sins to repeat themselves in others just because you made them yourself. 

We have enough trouble in dealing with the god of this world, we don't need to help him.