Saturday, January 21, 2006
Diane & Jo
Diane and Joe have been married for fourteen years. They have several businesses together and seem to be very happy with one another. However, there is one problem. Joe likes to drink and on occasion, will become mean, surely, and disrespectful when he is drinking. This bothers Diane greatly. To the point that she has talked about divorcing Joe whenever he begins to drink.
Now where the problem comes in is that Diane also likes to drink. Because her temperament remains constant she doesn’t see what the issue is. Diane remains the same quiet and demure person even after she starts drinking, and doesn’t believe that her drinking has any affect on her husband’s drinking.
What she has failed to realize is that even though she can drink and it doesn’t change her personality, she is judging her husband by a different set of standards and keeping him from being the man that she wants him to be. In order for her to expect something from her husband, she must be willing to do those very same things. It is ludicrous and unfair to expect our mates to do something we are not willing to do ourselves. When we judge others by a set of standards we are not willing to keep ourselves, we become stumbling blocks to their salvation.
Romans 14;13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
Now where the problem comes in is that Diane also likes to drink. Because her temperament remains constant she doesn’t see what the issue is. Diane remains the same quiet and demure person even after she starts drinking, and doesn’t believe that her drinking has any affect on her husband’s drinking.
What she has failed to realize is that even though she can drink and it doesn’t change her personality, she is judging her husband by a different set of standards and keeping him from being the man that she wants him to be. In order for her to expect something from her husband, she must be willing to do those very same things. It is ludicrous and unfair to expect our mates to do something we are not willing to do ourselves. When we judge others by a set of standards we are not willing to keep ourselves, we become stumbling blocks to their salvation.
Romans 14;13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
