Friday, January 8, 2016

Stealing Through Guilt

A behavior I have observed practiced by many leaders, employers, workers, families, customers, etc. is this practice of getting others to 'give' them something by making them feel guilty if they do not. These method usually require a half baked truth. For example, there are poor starving children in Africa, so you should give up some money to help. There are people with cancer, so you should donate to help find a cure.  These are some examples of larger non-profit organizations that derive their livelihood from others who mean well. In reality though, how much of your money goes to help others on the opposite side of the globe?  How much of your cash goes to help either cancer patients, or to research actual treatments?  Or is it a scam that enables wealthy 'philanthropists' to get gain off the guilt of others. 

The same thing can be brought to home. A brother may get help from his sister by making her feel guilty if she doesn't. Parents give in to their kids because if they don't they will feel like bad parents. A clerk at a store may issue a refund to an irate customer because they feel like they have done wrong, but in reality the customer may be using the situation to their benefit. The list could go on. 

I'm not saying that we shouldn't seek aid when we need it, or that we shouldn't help those around us. But I am saying that some people know how to manipulate others to get what they want. And they know that what they are doing is wrong. If you trick someone into giving you something, it is still theft. I am not saying to judge or suspect others of doing this. So what I am saying, is examine yourself honestly, and if you do this, stop. This is not the behavior of a Christian.  As sons and daughters of a loving God, we ought to treat each other as such. 

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