Dave Swavely- One Time I Was Playing Uno With 3 ...

Dave Swavely- One time I was playing Uno with 3 of my children. The youngest one, Madison, was only 4 and still learning how to win and lose with grace. So when things were not going her way in the game, she would be tempted to whine and cry. In one game, she was not doing well at all, and she was on the verge of losing it. I, on the other hand, was about to win, and I almost put down a “Draw 4” card which would have put her deeper into the hole and almost certainly sent her over the edge emotionally. But I didn’t want to have to discipline her for throwing a tantrum, and I wanted her to have a good first experience with Uno, so I kept the “Draw 4” card in my hand and picked one off the pile (which disadvantaged me). Then the next time around, the only card I could play was the “Draw 4” card again, but after staring into Madison’s blue eyes and noticing her quivering lip, I kept it in my hand and drew again. This happened a third time and a fourth time, until Madison finally won the game and I was left with a big stack of cards! I don’t like losing any kind of game, even when the winner is so cute, but I thought afterwards what a great illustration this is of how we should treat one another in the body of Christ. We must be willing to give up our rights and our freedoms to keep others from going down the wrong path, when we know they might be headed that way.

However, Dave Swavely doesn’t end it there. “I have not taken a vow to lose every game I ever play, however. This will serve to correct a misunderstanding that some people have of the principle of edification. Some say that if our actions might possibly cause someone to stumble in any area, then we should abstain at all times, just in case we might lead our brothers into sin.” Many times use this Scripture to back this up: “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22, KJV.

If we were to apply this principle consistently in all areas, we would become people who never do anything! We shouldn’t go to the mall, because a lot of people struggle with covetousness and materialism. We shouldn’t eat food, because gluttony and obesity are such common problems. We better not brush our teeth or tame our hair, because someone somewhere might possibly be led into vanity!