Just Some Things to Ponder

Today I want to look at the fourth of five attributes of a Toxic person called, “Unpredictability”.  Jesus told us a tree can be identified by the fruit it bears and people are just the same.  It’s what they do in everyday life which tells us what is going on underneath the facade they are wearing.

God is not the author of confusion and when He genuinely enters the life of an individual, He brings stability, understanding, direction, peace and comfort.  In other words, their chaotic lives are transformed into order.  Imposters may dress and play the part but usually they will be very unpredictable because of their lack of true direction in life.  They walk in the pleasure of their flesh.

A sure sign of walking in the flesh rather than the Spirit is unpredictably.  They may be at prayer this week and appear to be as steadfast as can be, yet by next week, they’ve fallen off the wagon. By Sunday morning, they are back on the wagon again or so it appears they are.  This can be a on going process for many months or years but sooner or later they’ll come to haunt you if allowed to be involved on any scale of leadership.

We pastors often make the classic mistake of justifying our using people by getting them involved in order to keep them on the right track.  In a small work, the pressure is even greater to have folks involved in every area.  I can tell you from firsthand experience; let them into a Sunday school class or on your platform and in the end they will cost you way more than you ever bargained for.

Let me tell you another story.  I had a couple come into the church a few years back whom we had been trying to win for years.  The man was a talented musician, so I thought, “What can it hurt to use him a little on the platform?  It will give him a boost in serving God.”  Well, do you remember what Peter said in 2Peter 2:22, “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” He was unpredictable.  He would come a few weeks and then drop out of sight.  He quit and then came back a few times.  I thought, “Well, I just need to be more patient with him.”  When the new wore off and the conviction really began to set in, he was out of there.  Now, this individual is a avid witness for the devil against us because we were not more flexible with his sins.  The local church down the road received him with open arms, patted him on the back and lied to the poor slob by telling him he was saved when he curses like a sailor and drinks like a fish.  We all need to get a real good understanding of one thing.  You cannot change a person and God does not change a person.  They have to voluntarily change their ways (through Repentance) and if you have to offer them gifts, a position or pet them continually you are wasting precious time that would be better spent on a hungry soul.  When you have to move on to new people, they will implode right in front of everyone and you gave them a stage to do it on.  What’s the moral to this story?  By using someone who is not committed or sold out to Right-ness, I gave the enemy amunition.  I empowered this individual to be a witness for the devil.  If I had allowed him to sit for sometime (not being used) then the problem would have eliminated on its own, but by allowing his involment, he caused a rift through the church and the community.  Sometimes by making someone wait, it forces them to deal with their sins.

We must learn to discern the people who walk through our doors and separate the goats from the sheep or we will lose your minds trying to figure out what is going wrong.  Is this judging? NO!  As a Shepard, you must discern everything that passes through the doors if you are doing your job.  You have to maintain the integrity of the flock and PROTECT it at all cost!  I’m not suggesting, the pastor decides who can or cannot come in, but rather who will become involved in setting the standard for the congregation.

When people cannot be predicted repeatedly over time, you can just about guarantee there is something rotten in there lives that they are not willing to let go of.  Many people love the Lord but they love their pet sins even more and when presented with the choice, they will choose the wrong things in life because that is what they are so familiar with.  They attempt to serve two masters and this is impossible.  Now we can get a better understanding of this verse.  “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Mat 7:14