When Should We?
Like one
who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a
quarrel not their own.
Proverbs
26:17
“How
do you know if you should or shouldn't intervene in someone else’s
affairs?” Brennan asked.
“God
used two events to teach me this lesson," Dillon laughed… the
memory of the first event as clear as the day it happened. "I
lived beside three brothers. Their cousins lived up the street. One
afternoon one of the cousins made a derogatory remark to one of the
brothers…it led to blows. As everyone else stood by, letting them
pound on each other, I decided to step between them and break up the
fight. They kept swinging at each other, and I took a major beating.
They, on the other hand, had relieved their frustration and were
content to let bygones be bygones.”
“The
other occasion was something much different.” Dillon’s face
turned serious… “I was sitting beside a couple in a restaurant,
when all of a sudden the man began cussing at his wife and drew back
his fist, meaning to hit her. I instinctively reached out and grabbed
his wrist, stopping him mid-swing. Holding his wrist, I quietly
explained that men do not hit women…nor disrespect them in such a
manner.” A light came on in Brennan’s eyes as Dillon continued,
“Suffice it to say, he didn’t share my philosophy. I later
learned that he had done this before and no one had ever confronted
him. I guess he must have figured that if no one was going to stop
him he would continue using fear and abuse to control his wife.”
†
It is
ingrained in men to ‘save the day’. God created us to
protect the weak and those less-able. Yet, it is foolish to assume
that every quarrel requires our personal intervention or involvement.
In one
of today’s examples there is no question as to whether intervention
was advisable. In the other it appeared to be the right thing to do,
and resulted in an unnecessary beating.
When
faced with this dilemma, godly wisdom is required to achieve a
beneficial outcome. So, whenever it is possible, don’t assume that
your action is required. Inquire of the Lord before taking action.
Prayer
“Lord,
in times like these, give me the wisdom to know whether to walk away
or take action. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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