Take a minute and watch this video. While I was in North Carolina for my nieces wedding I caught sight of a huge turtle eating grass at a gas station. I figured it was a pet and just like a person would walk their dog, I assumed someone was walking their turtle. Here is a video that shows as close as I could get of what I saw.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LK9e96bbjM
A man was asking for $20 to let children ride and take pictures with his turtle. Taking advantage of someone else for gain is what came to my mind. The owner of this turtle was making money at another's expense. "Oh it was just turtle", you may say but never the less I do not believe turtles are made for small children to ride.
People are not created to be used for the purpose of personal gain or to be used for any purpose for which they were not created either. However in the day and hour in which we are living many people are being sold, kidnapped, raped, held prisoner and abused by their captives. What I found most interesting is people were stopping and taking pictures and encouraging their children to hop on board and go for a ride. Most never gave a thought for the turtle. Entertainment in our society has taken the place of respect and protection.
When I was a child we were told to leave the animals alone. We were taught to respect nature and to treat animals with kindness. If we are taught as children to be kind to animals then as adults that rolls over into us treating both animals and people with kindness.
Luke 6:31 (ESV) “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LK9e96bbjM
A man was asking for $20 to let children ride and take pictures with his turtle. Taking advantage of someone else for gain is what came to my mind. The owner of this turtle was making money at another's expense. "Oh it was just turtle", you may say but never the less I do not believe turtles are made for small children to ride.
People are not created to be used for the purpose of personal gain or to be used for any purpose for which they were not created either. However in the day and hour in which we are living many people are being sold, kidnapped, raped, held prisoner and abused by their captives. What I found most interesting is people were stopping and taking pictures and encouraging their children to hop on board and go for a ride. Most never gave a thought for the turtle. Entertainment in our society has taken the place of respect and protection.
When I was a child we were told to leave the animals alone. We were taught to respect nature and to treat animals with kindness. If we are taught as children to be kind to animals then as adults that rolls over into us treating both animals and people with kindness.
Luke 6:31 (ESV) “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”
The Bible has a lot to say about how we are to treat one another.
Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Romans 15:1-2 (ESV) “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” I want to leave you with this challenge. When you desire something for yourself at the expense of others ask yourself this question, “Would I want someone to do this to me?” If the answer is no, then ask yourself the harder question, “What is inside of me that is not Christ like and how do I get it out?” God searches our hearts and He will answer us and give us mercy and grace to love like He loves. This is one of the great secrets of the Christian life—to love what God loves and to hate what He hates.
Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Romans 15:1-2 (ESV) “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” I want to leave you with this challenge. When you desire something for yourself at the expense of others ask yourself this question, “Would I want someone to do this to me?” If the answer is no, then ask yourself the harder question, “What is inside of me that is not Christ like and how do I get it out?” God searches our hearts and He will answer us and give us mercy and grace to love like He loves. This is one of the great secrets of the Christian life—to love what God loves and to hate what He hates.
RSS Feed