PERSONAL SIN AFFECTS OTHERS

Genesis 3:6 says, "The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too." There is one thing about our sins, it affects people around us, even when we feel or think that our sins will not affect anyone. The reason is that our sins manifest through our actions, motives, and attitudes, which affect others. Eve sinned because of her self-centeredness. She didn't care about God and her husband, Adam; all she wanted was to get what she wanted. It was all about her. As a result, she influenced her husband with her sinful action. She took some fruit, ate it, and gave some to her husband, who also ate it. Noticed that she gave the fruit to Adam. Eve wanted her husband to join her in her self-absorbed, sinful desire. However, she would realize sooner the grieved consequences of her self-centeredness.

Jesus warned these words to His disciples, "There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin" (Luke 17:1-2). Jesus is warning us not to be a source of temptation to others. We need to examine our actions or motives all the time to see if we are going to cause others to sin. Romans 14:21 says, "It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall." It is very clear in the Word of God that we are the ones who need to be proactive in not being a stumbling block to others. It is not acceptable to God to say, "It is not my concern if others have an issue with how I present myself. I will dress however I choose, eat, drink, and smoke as I wish." 1 Corinthians 8:9 says, "But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble." It is true that we have freedom to do whatever we want to do or say, but we need to make sure that what we do or say is honoring to God, and not causing others to stumble or sin. 

If we are followers of our Lord Jesus, we must live according to His ways, and not follow the way the ways of this world. We would rather be accepted by our God than be accepted by the eyes of this world. Let us not become self-centered, but God-centered. 

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Am I living for God or for myself? Can my sin affect others even when my sin is done in secret and in my mind? What can I do to make sure that what I do does not become a stumbling block to others? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for reminding me against self-centeredness and becoming a stumbling block to others. Please forgive me if I sinned in this area. Please change my heart, renew my mind, and teach me how I should handle myself according to your ways. I want you to be in the center of my life, and not myself, for you created me for your glory and honor. In your name, Jesus, I pray, Amen.