Believe in the Ultimate Stumbling Block
By Eric Davis, Washington Conference associate treasurer
Like most cats, Oliver is an expert in getting into anything and everything possible. Unfortunately, he often does not understand his limits or always listen to directions.
One morning the young tabby kitten spotted a squirrel outside the window. Oliver just knew he needed to play with that squirrel. So, he kept pushing at the screen in the open window until it dislodged. He jumped from the second story down to the lawn below. By then the squirrel had disappeared!
The nosy cat ended up frightened but uninjured, with a wounded sense of pride.
Have you ever interfered in someone’s life, only to find out later that it would have been best to stay out of it? We will often say things to other church members with good intentions, only to find out later that we have overstepped our bounds and into their personal walk with Christ. Sometimes we can become a stumbling block. This can lead to great pain, and we realize that we have only made the problem larger and/or made a fool of ourselves just like Oliver did with the squirrel!
In Romans 14:13 says very clearly that we must not pass judgment on each other, but instead make up our minds not to be a stumbling block to anyone.
Until recently, this was the only context in which I have heard the words ‘stumbling block’ used in the Bible. 1 Peter 2:6-8, however, gives us a slightly different perspective:
For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious Cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.’ Now to you who believe, this Stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The Stone the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone,’ and, ‘A Stone that causes people to stumble and a Rock that makes them fall.’
"They stumble because they disobey" the message—which is also what they were destined for.
It is very plain to see who the true Stumbling Block in someone’s life should be, and that is Jesus! He knows how to best tell His children that they need to change an attitude, action or habit to become more like Him. Although there are times when God makes us a part of helping a person grow in Christ, we must always remember that our Savior knows how to best approach and touch the heart of someone looking to follow Him. As we interact with our fellow believers, let us not BE the stumbling block, but BELIEVE in the Ultimate Stumbling Block!