A man walked up to a counselor and complained bitterly that in spite of all that he buys for his wife- the costliest car in town, a beautiful house, gold jewelries etc- but their marriage is still an unhappy one, that what should he buy else to make the marriage a happy one.
Considerate living means to care about other people’s feelings and wishes. It also means thinking carefully about a fact before taking a decision or an action. Living considerately is all about living a life in which before you react to anything, you think carefully in all sides. Also, it is about before saying something or doing something, you weigh the cost of your actions- the reasons why you must and you must not act or speak.
Inability to live considerately has been the major cause of problems and quarrels in any gathering, families and relationships today. Before reacting or saying anything patterning to action, first consider determining the reasons
- Why the action took place
- What the consequences of my way of reaction will be.
One proof of inconsiderate living or cause of inconsiderate living is reacting quickly or retorting without thinking. Reacting quickly does not infer one’s reaction to fire outbreak or flood (though it might touch it if one’s reaction fuels the inferno more and causes more disastrous outcomes). It regards the case of human relationships. The bible, knowing this, said in James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath”. With considerate living, you will be able to judge all cases well. Some people today lay claims that one ought not to judge and so they do not (their claim is based on Mat. 7:1. Such people tend to short circuit verse two “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again “. Also, looking at Yehocanan (John) 7:24 (“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.), it supports the idea of living considerately such that one has to enquire well before taking decisions, stances and conclusions. Taking a look at law courts, before one appears before it, one is taken into custody and investigations carried out thoroughly to ascertain the veracity of the case, though it does not really take effect today.
Also, in families today, it is imperative for husband and wife to live considerately towards each other and also parents and children, to each other. Like the story at the beginning, Joel Osteen explained that the issue is that the husband provides the wife all HE wants and not what SHE wants, thus the husband lives inconsiderate of his wife’s wants and desires. One fact I want you to comprehend is that money, jewelries, material possessions do not bring real happiness. True happiness arises from the state of your relationship with yourself and with people around you (wealthy or not). Lack of considerate living today has led to problems arising in many families today thus pitching husband against wife and parents against children. To avoid such, apostle Shimonkepha said in 1 Peter 3:7 “husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives…)” (New International Version). I believe that it is still vice versa that is wives should live considerately with their husbands, parents with their children and children with their parents. One issue is that one always wants the husband, the wife or the children to think, speak, act the way he or she does but the fact is that they are all different personalities from you. Though I do not rule out the possibility of you changing someone and aligning him or her to your own school of thought but this should be done with all gentleness avoiding aggression and coercion. Also, lack of considerate living in the family and any other close relationship is seen in the fact that after many years of living together, a man or woman cannot even define his partner or the wards that is he or she cannot say with all assurance: this is who my husband is; I know my wife very well, she cannot do such a thing; no, never my child. One sees such in that many people always change their opinion about the people they are in relationship with, declaring with whatever they see momentarily about them. Joel Osteen suggested that everyone should constantly study the people they are in relationship with.
In the society today, a prominent outcome of inconsiderate living is that people tend to support or oppose a view or motion by their personal perception of such. I mean if the view is in their favor today, they tend to support it but if tomorrow or the next minute, the same view seems to disfavor them, they oppose it. When you are able to live considerately, be rest assured that after consideration, you will be able to see things in a higher and far better perspective. If any action takes place, you need to consider and by doing so, you put yourself in the shoes of the doer or receiver of your reaction. Ask yourself “if I were the one, would I do the same thing?” “Why did he or she take such action?” “If I say this or act this way (in response), what would be the outcome both presently and in the future?” A very good example was laid by Yehoshua ha Mashyach as stated in Hebrews 4:15. Always live considering the fact that we (men and women) are all weak (women being the weaker part because they were created with only one rib). <But you that is dwelling in your weakness to default at all times, why don’t you strengthen your weakness according to Hebrews 12:12>
In final analysis, speak and act as they that shall be judged according to the law of liberty [Yaakov (James) 2:12]. You can only achieve such when you live considerately. If you live considerately, you will discover that your relationship with yourself and the people around you will improve much, making you to find true happiness.
0 comments:
Post a Comment