If you are a human, then you will be tempted to do something at some point in your life. That is a given; it's not disputable. Whether or not you cause someone else to be tempted, however, is something that is under your control. It's a sobering thought that you or I could be the reason why someone gave into sin. It's even more sobering when we consider that the way we life our lives profoundly affects this. When I was in high school I was never really tempted to get into much trouble, but there was one occasion when a friend tried to get to me drink alcohol with him. He was being very persuasive, but I ultimately turned down the opportunity because I knew that no one in my family drank. Now: is it wrong for Christians to drink alcohol? No. Is it wrong for teenagers to drink alcohol? Yes. Is it wrong for people to get drunk? Yes. If I drank as a teenager, I would have been breaking the law, and chances are I would have gotten drunk. But I didn't do it because I knew it was something that my parents didn't do. If my parents drank, they would have been a stumbling block to me at that point in my life. Jesus said that it would be better for a person to have a millstone tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea than to be a stumbling block to somebody else. Are there things you can do to prevent yourself from being a stumbling block to someone?
About Seth
Seth is a pastor, author, and speaker who lives in Batesville, Indiana. He is married to Kari, and they have two daughters, Madelyn and Noelle.
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