8/6/2019 Matthew 18 Community - Part 3 - Are You A Relational Stumbling Block?

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8/6/2019 Matthew 18 Community - Part 3 - Are You A Relational Stumbling Block?

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From a personal standpoint. Do my hands, feet, eyes, mind cause me to stumble? Do I consistently get in

my own way and impede my progress toward God through my own sin. Do I have an "addiction"? On any

of these fronts, the cure is pretty radical and can never be too extreme. Jesus says, do whatever it takes to

get your behavior under control.

A Note on "Addictions"

Allow me to comment for a moment on "addictions." We humans tend to be a fairly compulsive group. If

we don't have a serious addiction to something like drugs, alcohol, spending, gambling, sex, money, power,

work, fear, food or attention then we most likely have mild cases of the same. I like to call them "low-

grade" spiritual fevers and in relationships they can be almost as debilitating because we don't realize how

self-destructive we can be. We think we have things under control.

If you do seriously suffer from one of the above addictions, you must seek professional help before it is too

late. It's hard for me to give you relationship advice if your anger problem causes you to strike your

family. If you have a low-grade "addiction," you must do everything in your power to eradicate it. It is

causing a great deal of pain, anguish and spiritual conflict in your life and in your relationships as well.

Conclusion

These are tough lessons to swallow. But just like a father warns his children against danger, so God warns

his children when their self-destructive patterns and behaviors can cause so much damage.

We were made to be in joyful and loving relationships with other people. However, when we cause others

or ourselves to stumble, we are cutting off people's path toward the God who created them and we short-

circuit all that the Lord has planned for us in this life through our relationships. Let us not be a stumbling

block to others nor to ourselves.

Shalom!