Subscribe to the NetworkGUESTS POST: High Expectations for Everyone Else
Visited an elder one time who was confined to their home because of health issues. They were so active in our church before their sickness, that I know this period of being shut-in was killing them (not literally).
But what stuck out too me was some of the the comments they were making about the various ministries in our church. “Surely there’s a retired person in our church who could come by and clean the snow off of my car”, “our youth is only interested in having fun”, “we need to do follow up visit’s more”, “I’ve paid tithes for years, I think I deserve some benefits now”, etc…
I steered clear of that conversation and led the shut-in to talk about their family. It very quickly, became evident that this person had two sons that lived relatively close by. When I asked if their sons helped them out at all they had all kinds of excuses as too why they were too busy. Many of the same reasons they used for their sons, if they would have been honest, are some of the reasons the other people they were complaining about couldn’t be there everyday.
Why do we have a propensity to hold other people (and their children) to such a high level, while we have all the patience and understanding in the world, for ourselves and our children?
To answer my own question I would say human nature. This kind of thing has been happening since the world began.
In the Old Testament David casts judgment on a certain man before he realizes that he is the man:
And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. 2 Sam 12:5-75
The Lord has really been using this experience this work my flesh over. I caught myself doing this while I was driving, while I was talking to my wife, while I was working.
Lord, help me to be as patient with others as I am with myself…
Lord, help me to be as patient with others as you are with me…
Jeremy Pinson is a youth worker. Not sure much else about him, but I’m thankful he wrote this post for us to think about this week.
