It’s so easy to point and laugh when other people mess up. Whether we do it out in the open or just in our own minds, sometimes we enjoy watching others get things wrong. Pointing out even our friends’ mistakes and problems makes us look and feel so much better. But that’s just the problem. Avoiding our own issues by focusing on everyone else’s only slows down our growth with Jesus. God’s work in our lives can be blocked by how we live and what we choose to focus on.

It’s no surprise, then, that Paul made an effort to “put no obstacle in anyone’s way” (2 COR. 6:3 ESV). For him there was nothing more important than his usefulness for Jesus in the lives of others. Anything that got in the way of that needed to be got rid of.

If we want to be useful for God, we also need to check if there are any obstacles we need to get rid of. Focusing on how others mess up is a big obstacle for our own relationship with God and for our relationship with them. It can lead to gossip, boasting, greed, anger, selfishness and revenge—all of which hurt the people around us even more.

If we want to show the love and welcome of God, we need to change our focus on to Jesus. He was kind and caring, even for those who had messed up really badly. When we live like that, others will see Him all the more clearly through us.

By: Joe Stowell
https://odb.org/2011/08/20/an-obstacle-inventory

To Pray About . . .

Lord, help me not focus on others' mistakes but focus my thoughts on You. Teach me to be kind and caring, even to the ones we think have made mistakes, making us feel uncomfortable or uneasy.