Are You a Stumbling Block?

“From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.’

Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’” Matthew 16:21-26

A friend has a debt that he cannot repay. Reluctant to see him in financial straits, we write him a check to cover the amount. A son is reprimanded at school for misbehavior. We rush to the principal’s office to vent our displeasure, and the principal lifts the punishment. Our well-intentioned efforts to help can be stumbling blocks that hinder God from accomplishing His will.

We may find the friend we rescued from financial duress in problematic debt again. He did not learn God’s lesson of the responsible stewardship. The son we delivered from just punishment may be back in the principal’s office only a few weeks later. This time the offense is more serious. God’s lessons can be difficult to learn. We must often be placed in strenuous circumstances before we seek the Lords’ will and are open to His solution.

Are you getting in God’s way in His dealing with someone? If so, you may be lengthening the time frame for God to work His purposes in someone’s life. God is far better equipped than we to solve problems. Be careful not to unnecessarily interfere with His plan.