Are We Stepping Stones Or Stumbling Blocks?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesThe words of the following poem by an unknown author are simple, yet profound, teaching a biblical principle:
“You’ve each been given a bag of tools,
A formless block, and a book of rules,
And each must make, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block or a stepping stone.“
God gives each of us abilities and opportunities [a bag of tools]. He provides us the spiritual standard [a book of rules] by which to govern our lives — the Bible. At first, our lives stretch before us like a formless block which we ourselves must shape. Some of us have been working on that block longer than others, but all of us are choosing each day how we shape our lives and what we make of them.
The question is, are we (with God’s help) making ourselves into stepping stones which will help others reach heaven, or are we stumbling blocks which make others fall? We must be one or the other. We influence others by our conduct, either for evil or for good — it’s our choice (cf. Joshua 24:15).
Our Lord said:
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).
Brethren and friends, each of us bears a tremendous responsibility for the manner in which we influence others. Does our influence make the lives of others better or worse? Are we a stepping stone or a stumbling block? Let us remember that as long as we are alive on earth, it is never too late to change the shape of the block, but that decision must be made by each one of us alone.
The inspired writer Paul, made the correct decision when he issued this moving statement to the brethren at Rome:
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved” (Romans 10:1).
Let us today, make the same decision regarding the lost of our world, our lives influencing others to render obedience to Christ.
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