In the last few weeks I have had quite a few
medical appointments for a few health issues that I am struggling with. On one
occasion, I went to have an endoscopy done to find out if I am gluten
intolerant or not. I have been struggling with digestive issues for quite some
time and I decided that it is time I have some investigations done to find out
what exactly is causing all my bloating and constipation. Upon entering the
doctor's office, he proceeded to ask me the usual questions: What brought me
there? What are my symptoms?
But I did not get to say too much, because as
soon as he heard that I am constipated, he asked me what I have done for to
help my constipation and he prescribed me some laxatives (which, of course, I
am NOT going to take). I tried to tell him about some other symptoms that I
have, but he insisted on the same thing: that I take a strong laxative that he
is going to prescribe me for four weeks. Needless to say, I was pretty
frustrated at the end of the visit. I kept telling myself: "Really? Is
this what you do? Are you treating only the symptoms? What about the
cause?" Not to say that his solution is only damaging the digestive tract.
The more I thought about it, the more it
dawned on me that we are doing the very same thing in the relationship with
others. What we see in them, their weaknesses, are only the symptoms. And this
is what we are often trying to treat. We think that we are knowledgeable and we know what they must do. And so often we are offering them our own solutions that
not only do not heal, but are doing more damage.
Treating the symptom might bring temporal
relieve. But on long term there is no gain.
As Christians we should know better than
treating the symptoms of sin. Trying to get someone do something by showing
them Bible verses or E.G. White quotations might help for a while. But the
question remains: What makes this person do this and that when the Bible speaks
against it? Once we have the answer to this question, we know what actually
needs to be treated. I believe that there is only one answer to this question
no matter what the symptom may be.
Sin, regardless of its kind, is just a
symptom. The sickness is our lack of love for Jesus. If we want a long
term-change, we need to pull out the root of all evil. We need to get to know
Jesus, and we will surely fall in love with Him in the process. If we want
others to get well, we need to point them to Jesus, we need to encourage them
to get to know Him and spend time with Him. And even more than that, we need to
showcase them Jesus.
So let's stop treating the symptoms. Let's
stop using our knowledge and wisdom. Let's stop using our Bible knowledge to fix
people and to prove them wrong. Let's go to the root! Let's spend time on our
knees asking God how can we show them Jesus? How can we point them to Him? How can we awaken in them the desire to know Jesus more? How can we help them fall
in love with Him? And let's allow the great Healer to do His work in His own time, in His own way. He might
choose to use us, or He might use someone else. This is His work, not ours. We
have not been called to change people. We have been called to reflect Him and
do what He is asking us to do. That's why we need to ask ourselves: Is it God
who sends me to do this work, or is it my own desire?
Let's not forget that there is only one Great
Healer. We are only tools in His hands. When we attempt to do the work that belongs only to Him or that He did not send us to do, we will only do more damage. But when we remain a tool in His hands, there will be no limit to our usefulness.
"There is no limit to the usefulness of the one
who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his
heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God." —The Southern Watchman,
August 1, 1905.
