“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” Matthew 18:6-7.

You look at this world and see that the attitude toward life is me first and everyone else can get in line. Even in business it is buyer beware, which means you pay your money and you take your chances. I know that this attitude has been there from the beginning time. When I was in college, I enrolled in a business class that was teaching that very principle. It is not a new idea. It just has become prevalent.

When you offend someone, there are two different paths you can take. Actually, there are three. The first path is just walk away and say they made their choice. The second path is to ask for forgiveness. Seeing that you wronged someone and try to make it right. It does not always work. Some people will give a person one chance to do right and if they do not they are cut off. The third path is seeing ahead and making the decision not offend anyone. It is the hard path, but in the long run it the better path.

Jesus was talking to the disciples about offending someone. He made it very clear what offences cost. I know of a war that starting over taking a pig from someone. That third path calls for sacrifice. This is where you defer to another person not to start a war. Everybody has rights, but it is not always convenient or right to put your rights first. Deferring to another person takes self restraint. In this Me First generation, it seems almost archaic, but it is the right decision.

The disciples ask Jesus another question about offences in Matthew 18:21-22. “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven”

Now the choice is up to you. What are you going to do? The truth is there to see. All it requires is to follow your heart. Choose wisely, for there is great reward or great consequence in your choice.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com