Actions Have Consequences

Some years ago, a Walmart employee that got arrested for writing down people’s credit card numbers and then using it for her own gain. They didn’t have to check the cameras. They didn’t have to break her in a long interrogation. They just had to look at the receipt. “Why?”, you might ask. She put her name on the receipts so that she could claim her employee discount. The world is made up of all kinds of people. We are creatures of habit that don’t always think about the consequence of our actions. Someone might find money on the ground and keep it, saying, “Finders, keepers”. What if that was all that person had to live on for the next few weeks. Is my ‘want’ greater than the wellbeing of another? Maybe we are upset, and an employee does something that hits us the wrong way. We may tell someone else about what we perceived as terrible behavior without realizing that we were just venting. That action, however, might be the final straw that gets that person fired...again, maybe taking their source of income. When driving, we may not like someone that is honking their horn behind us and looking like they will pass us, even if it is dangerous. We may try to prevent that because we want to teach them a lesson. What if they are trying to get to the hospital because of a medical emergency? Maybe someone is seeking a church, as they have not gone in a while. As they ask if we know anything about a certain church, we respond either by ignoring their question and trying to get them to come to our church or we start to cut down that church because they have a different worship style. Either of those responses, if coming from selfishness, could turn them away from church again. Our words, our actions, and even our silent judgement of others can either build someone up or tear them down. I think it is James that talks about praise and worship coming from our mouth. He also says that out of the same mouth comes cursing and speaking wicked things. He clearly declares that should not be. Neither should our careless use of words tear down others. Let us lift up one another, encouraging them to be their best. Father, help us to use our words carefully and keep us from speaking words that might tear down another. You are our life. Amen