What Did You Expect?
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”
Luke 17:1–2
Most of us have had the experience of putting money in a vending machine, only to have it fail to deliver the product we were expecting. Sometimes insult is added to injury when the machine not only fails to dispense, but also does not return the money we put into it in the first place. When we do not receive what we expect, it is a disappointing experience. But I’ve never seen anyone shaking or pounding on a vending machine after he got the candy bar he wanted. His expectations were fulfilled, and he was not surprised, so there was no reaction.
Jesus tells us that there are going to be difficulties and offenses that we must deal with in life. While it would be nice if people did what they promised and treated us with kindness and respect, that is not the normal course of human interaction. Day after day we can expect to be offended—and when we are, God still expects us to respond properly rather than retaliating. The actions or failures of others do not excuse carnal behavior on our part.
But there is another lesson for us in what Jesus said. Rather than being hyper-vigilant to respond every time someone offends us, our focus needs to be on being diligent about ensuring that we are not giving offense to others. Paul placed a very high value on this, and in his testimony before Felix, he was able to say, “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16).
Luke 17:1–2
Most of us have had the experience of putting money in a vending machine, only to have it fail to deliver the product we were expecting. Sometimes insult is added to injury when the machine not only fails to dispense, but also does not return the money we put into it in the first place. When we do not receive what we expect, it is a disappointing experience. But I’ve never seen anyone shaking or pounding on a vending machine after he got the candy bar he wanted. His expectations were fulfilled, and he was not surprised, so there was no reaction.
Jesus tells us that there are going to be difficulties and offenses that we must deal with in life. While it would be nice if people did what they promised and treated us with kindness and respect, that is not the normal course of human interaction. Day after day we can expect to be offended—and when we are, God still expects us to respond properly rather than retaliating. The actions or failures of others do not excuse carnal behavior on our part.
But there is another lesson for us in what Jesus said. Rather than being hyper-vigilant to respond every time someone offends us, our focus needs to be on being diligent about ensuring that we are not giving offense to others. Paul placed a very high value on this, and in his testimony before Felix, he was able to say, “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16).
Today’s Growth Principle:
Take great care not to be an unnecessary source of offense in the lives of others.
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