WHEN HELP CAN HARM

Read: Proverbs 19:19

"Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again." ( Proverbs 19:19 ) NLT

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Bible in a year:

Thoughts for Today

When someone we care about is struggling with a life-controlling problem, we naturally want to help. But sometimes, even though we have the best intentions, our efforts hurt more than they help … and we end up enabling our loved one to continue in the destructive behavior.

Negative consequences naturally flow from wrong behaviors. When we intervene and prevent someone from experiencing those consequences, they have no reason to change their behavior. We enable them to continue.


Consider this …

Enabling is progressive. It begins by making small allowances for someone's irresponsible behavior and gradually progresses until our lives are dominated by trying to cure and control our loved one. A line must be drawn to avoid the progression. The first time you bail someone out, that's mercy. The second time, it is enabling.

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Living Free Every Day® is a ministry of livingfree.org

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