Because I Said So

Parents have a responsibility to teach their children right from wrong.

They tell their children what they should do.

For instance, they will tell them to eat everything on their plate.

They also tell their children what they should not do.

For example, they will tell them not to touch the stove or play with matches.

Children will usually ask, “Why?”

Early on, parents will explain their reasoning.

In the case of plate cleaning they will tell their children about those less fortunate that have no food to waste.

In the case of stoves or matches they will tell their children about the dangers of fire.

As children get older they learn which behaviors are acceptable and which are not.

This knowledge does not always guarantee that children will behave according to the parents’ instruction.

Children, especially the stubborn ones, still tend to ask, “Why?”

Eventually the patience of the parents runs out.

At this point, the response from the parents usually becomes, “Because I said so! That’s why!”

Truth be told, adults can be every bit as stubborn as children at times.

Scripture is pretty clear on what is acceptable.

It is also pretty clear on what is unacceptable.

As adults, we usually know the difference between right and wrong.

Sometimes, we yield to temptation and do what is wrong anyway.

When we do, our first response is to try to justify that disobedience in ourselves.

We tell ourselves that under normal circumstances we would have obeyed.

We then tell ourselves that this time there were special circumstances.

Eventually we are able to convince ourselves that this disobedience was justified.

Ironically, we find it all too easy to condemn the same disobedience in others.

Whether it is God speaking in the Old Testament, or Jesus speaking in the New Testament we have been told what is expected of us.

We even struggle with something as simple as loving our neighbor.

We try to add our own conditions to this command and the others.

When we examine our motivation for disobedience we find we are just like stubborn children continually asking, “Why?”

I wonder just how we would feel if we actually heard God or Jesus say to us, “Because I said so! That’s why!”

Romans 12:2 (NET) - Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 22, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 5, 2016