WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT FOR SOME TO SAY NO?

WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT FOR SOME TO SAY NO?

Part 2

Last time I wrote mainly about the things that had to do with the sexual area. Many are agreeing to participate in fear for rejection, but that fear can be active in many other areas as well.

I heard about an auditor who couldn’t continue to attend church because she worked with the economy of many members of the church. These were standing on Sunday praising God with lifted arms, but on Monday they wanted her to write wrong numbers on the papers in order to cheat. She refused to do that, and she could not understand how one could praise God one day and be dishonest the next. She herself was willing to become unpopular for her honesty.

I know of a pastor who said that everything goes when it comes to business. I violently disagree on that. As a Christian we have to be honest in all areas of life. Some people keep back negative information about a house or anything else they want to sell. That could be very expensive for the buyer later on. Are you an honest seller?

Maybe you are doing business together with others. If you know that what they are doing isn’t quite right, do you dare to say no? If you do, you might lose the job or lose some money. Would you still dare to say no? Some people excuse themselves by saying that they must support their wife and children, but I read in my Bible that God is my Provider. I do not need to say yes to the devil when I know that I have God on my side. Do we trust Him? I believe that lack of trust in God is one reason for many saying yes to wrong decisions in affairs. They forget that they belong to the One blessing them and promises to be with them always. We have not been promised that we will have success in everything we do in our own power.

I seriously believe that it is more difficult to say no to a person who is close to you. I think about your partner, your children or your own parents. Many family members have been punished in criminal cases even if they weren’t doing the real crime. They have helped the person doing the unlawful. It is easier to say to a person you do not know. People close to you might become like idols if you listen more to them than the voice of God.

It can also be difficult to say no to close friends. We see this very clearly in youth groups. When you are young, it is very important to be accepted, and it is important to have a sense of belonging. One hasn’t quite found one’s own identity yet and it is therefore easy to give in for group-pressure. Many young people have had their sexual debut in fear for being rejected. Many are also drinking too much alcohol in fear of being teased and ridiculed. I am very happy to see that many young people are taking the gospel seriously and they make Jesus their hero. If you are the only Christian at school, it is more difficult to stand against the group-pressure, but if you belong to a good and safe group of other Christians, you can easier say no. Young people also need spiritual mothers and fathers supporting them, pray for them and open their homes so they have a safe place to be free of alcohol and narcotics. Many young people might be insecure and it might be tempting to try some alcohol or narcotics in order to feel a little more courageous. The devil knows that it is easy to tempt young people with alcohol and drugs, but later they get dependent. It is much more difficult to say no then and to brake a bad pattern.

How much are you willing to sacrifice for Jesus? I heard a story about a young woman in the process of being trained as a nurse. Yoga was part of their education. She didn’t want to participate, and she was told that she wouldn’t get her final papers as a nurse then. She tried to explain that yoga came from another religion, and it was against her Christian belief. The teacher denied that in the beginning, but after she had read more about it, she agreed, and yoga was removed from the education. The woman had been willing to sacrifice her education.

Many burned-out people are coming to me. That means that they have done too much of something and too little of something else. Some people do not dare to say no at work in fear of getting less paid or becoming unpopular. They might even be afraid of losing their job. Others might be afraid to say no to the pastor since he is always complaining about lack of workers. It might even become a conflict between the church and the family. We read in Matthew 11:30 that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. If something is heavy, it might not come from God then. No leader, not in the world nor in the church has a right to control or manipulate you. We read in Titus 2:15 that we should not allow anybody to despise us or supress us. We must say no. We have to become so secure in God that we become able to be rejected. God is a just God and He is for us and with us and He will give us power for the things He wants us to do. Some Christians are doing things that God hasn’t asked them to do, and they do it in their own power. Remember that His yoke is light.

I believe that too many are answering yes without asking God. You can use Him in all matters of life. Cry unto Me, and I will answer you, says the Lord. (Jeremiah 33:3)

SAY YES TO THE LORD AND NO TO THE DEVIL!

Mother Else