Fantastic Friday #460 - Choices

Choices


23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24


We make choices every single day. Some are good choices and some are bad choices, but what kind of impact do they really have on others or on yourself. I made the choice to eat some Blue Bell Tin Roof Sundae Ice Cream this week and I also made a choice not to run this week in freezing temperatures. What does one have to do with the other? Well, one of my weaknesses is Blue Bell and it is beneficial to me only that it tastes good, and because I am not good at moderation, I have to run to offset the non-benefits of weight gain when I eat it. So by not running I have not constructively battled the non-beneficial weight gain.


Now this might not sound anything like what this scripture is teaching, but let's look at it this way. I have the right to go up and tell someone I care about that they are not a very healthy person when they eat a ton of Blue Bell. This does nothing to benefit that person and by handling it this way it deconstructs their opinion of themselves and can be very hurtful. We all know how this person should be approached, yet we see time and time again people being hurtful and not constructive with their comments.


Now, think about a believer in Christ who sees someone doing something against what their beliefs have always been, and instead of approaching them in kindness for their good, they approach this person in a less than constructive manner. If I were non-Christ follower and were approached negatively in this manner, I wouldn't want to be a part of a Christian group of people where I felt belittled. We all need to remember that we are all less-than-adequate in many ways and we should approach individuals in a way that benefits them and is also constructive. This is true love and is good.


Have a great weekend.