Use compassionate standards.
| posted 1/30/2009
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Most people break trust because they find themselves in a difficult situation. Maybe their loyalties are divided-should they help you or someone else? Or they perceive that they need something you cannot give (affirmation, money, attention, time).
God usually asks you to focus on right and wrong. But in this case, God seems to ask you to focus on something else. Are you sure, given the same situation, you wouldn't have done the same? Plan on this: As soon as you become holier-than-thou about someone's behavior, you'll violate the same principle in some way. You can justify your actions, but then so can they. We're all fellow travelers with similar flaws.
So instead of putting others down only to find yourself doing the same thing, be compassionate from the start. Sure, this person may have goofed, but so have you in some ways. Yes, this person deserves consequences, but you know consequences hurt. Yes, this person did some things wrong, but because of Jesus Christ there's hope for him and for your relationship. (See also Numbers 14:11-25; 1 Samuel 24; Matthew 18:21-35; Luke 6:27-36.)
Good Words to Remember:
First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Matthew 7:5
Today's Challenge:
Treat others as you'd like to be treated.
Copyright 2001 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.
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