As sad as it sounds, people taking advantage of their own family members is one of the most common practices. Children stealing from parents, siblings from each other, parents taking advantage of their children, etc.
The reasoning or justification they use is that the person they are taking advantage of would want to help them, or they will understand. An attitude of entitlement becomes prevalent. An example I will use is this.
A certain man had been going through hard times and needed a place to stay. So he went to his brother, who agreed to rent a trailer to him at a rate that was fair and reasonable. However, the first brother began to act as though he was being cheated. He claimed the rent was too high, and that his brother was in a good financial situation. He began to justify in his mind with all the things he had done to help him out in the past. And so when rent came due, he did not keep his agreement. In the end, he finally moved out, but left without paying his full rent.
This story I have shared is stealing. The first brother stole, he stole because he felt justified in doing so. He did not keep his agreement. The second brother could have said no, he could have evicted his brother, he could have rented to another person. In my story, the second brother did not have to help, but he felt he should because it was his brother. And he gave a good deal which mostly covered the incurred expenses. The first brother knew his brother would help him out and give him a good rate. That is precisely why he took advantage. Once he no longer needed help, he quickly bailed, and never fulfilled the agreement.
If we take advantage of our own family and abuse that trust, what does it say about our integrity? What does it say about our whole character?
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