Introduction

• Proverbs 19:3
• We make foolish decisions, then rage against the Lord!
• Bad things do happen to good people, but when we stray from God’s plan, we invite difficulties.

Make a lot of assumptions!

• Job 4:7-8 – Job’s friends assumed he had sinned.
• Job 8:3-4
• Job 11:13-20
• Job 42:7-9
• Acts 21:27-32 – They almost murdered Paul because of an assumption.
• John 5:8-9, 16
• John 7:21-23 – They assumed Jesus was breaking the Sabbath with His miracles.
• Do we assume there are problems when there are not? Our imaginations can lead us down dark alleys. We have to be comfortable with, “I don’t know.”

Focus mainly on self.

• II Timothy 3:1-2
• I Corinthians 8:8-13; 10:24 – Be willing to set your liberty aside for the sake of offending your brother.
• James 3:13-16 – If you want trouble, have selfish ambition.
• A self-centered life is a small life full of misery.
• Luke 9:23

Keep a running list of wrongs.

• I Kings 21:1-4, 8-10, 15-16 – Jezebel killed Naboth because he “wronged” Ahab.
• Esther 5:11-13 – Haman could not let go of being “wronged” by Mordecai.
• Ephesians 4:31-32

React quickly no matter what.

• Matthew 16:21-23 – Early on, Peter moved much too quickly. Despite good intentions, he was working against God’s plan.
• John 18:10-11
• Proverbs 18:13
• James 1:19 – Be swift to hear, slow to speak.