Friday, June 30, 2006

Defeat: agony or pleasure?

Step 5 of LifeWay lesson “Analyze Your Actions” draws the point from Job 31:29-30, 33-34 that Christians should not gloat or criticize others. Job was basically saying that taking pleasure in the mistakes of others and hypocritical behavior were not part of his life. Can we make Job’s claim?

Experience suggests otherwise. In fact, we go so far as to hope that others stumble in order to gloat. Mistakes by others allow us to be even more jubilant and critical. For example, how do you react when a business competitor gets some bad press? What was your first thought when Martha was convicted? Lead the class in recalling examples of recent situations where trouble in the lives of others was looked upon with pleasure.

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