Am I a Stumbling Block or a Stepping Stone?

Children are looking for role models today. For them a role model could be a film star, a sports star, or sometimes a popular personality like a teacher. But how many would say that their parents are their role models-is a question to be bothered.  Out of the crowd Jesus brought a child to the centre and said, “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matt 18:6 [NRSV])

The “little ones” could literally mean a little child or could mean spiritual babes who are growing in faith. "Stumbling blocks" are the sins of ones which make the young ones in turn to sin. The judgment Jesus offers to such offenders is so severe. Now that indicates the seriousness of being a stumbling block in young people’s lives.

I wish to open up the parental problem of being stumbling blocks to children from the lives of Eli and David in the Bible.

Eli was a stumbling block (1 Samuel 2-4)

Eli, a priest of the temple that day can portray a pastor or a spiritual leader today. His sons Hophni and Phinehas coveted the offering that came to the temple treasury. They coveted also women who came there for offering service in the temple. The sons of Eli exploited such women sexually.  Eli reproved his sons initially but to no effect (1 Samuel 2:23-25). But the truth was: the whole of the priestly family fattened themselves by exploiting the offerings. In this way Eli honoured his sons more than God (1 Samuel 2:29). Though Eli knew the consequences of such sinful acts, the Bible tells, he failed to restrain his sons who made themselves contemptible (1 Samuel 3:13). Eventually the consequences for such grievous offences were so severe. The following incidents took place on one single day (1 Samuel 4):

1. The sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas died in a war.
2.  The pride of the nation, “the ark of God” was seized by the enemy nation.
3.  Hearing the death of his sons and the seizure of the ark of God, old Eli fell off his chair, broke his neck and died.
4. On hearing the news of the death of Phinehas, his pregnant wife who was nearing her delivery time, delivered child. But she died.

This is why Jesus said, “Woe to the man by whom the stumbling block comes!” (Matthew 18:7)

David was a stumbling block (2 Samuel 11-19)

David misused his power as a King and sexually exploited Bathsheba. In this self-indulging pursuit he plotted the death of her husband, Uriah, a righteous man. David repented for his sins and did not repeat them again. But as consequences of his sin there was chaos in his family. He became a stumbling block to his own children in the following situations, which fully went out of his control:

1.  The child born out of David’s sin with Bathsheba died.
2.  Amnon raped Tamar, an innocent girl and drove her out mercilessly. (David  was the father of both, but their mothers were different)
3.  This triggered Absalom, brother of Tamar. He became ferocious and murdered Amnon.
4.  David’s effort to bring justice aggravated the situation. Absalom rose against his own father.
5.  David had to walk away from his palace bare footed to escape the fury of his son.
6.  David’s sin with Bathsheba was in secret. But Absalom did the same offence in open with the concubines of David in broad day light.
7.  Except for a few, the whole nation rose against Absalom. The army of David chased Absalom in a battle. In an attempt to save his life,  he fled in his mule. His long hair got struck to a tree. While he was hanging, the army commander speared him to death.

Because of his sin, David did not have control over the life of his children. His children suffered blood-shed, deaths and unjust events. He became a stumbling block in the lives of his children.

Jesus not only said that such offenders needed to be drown in the depths of the sea, but also goes to the extent that the bodily organ which causes to sin say, hands, feet, eyes be removed, according to Matthew 18:1-9. Can Jesus be that unkind to an offender? Jesus loves sinners. That was why he took such offences on his behalf and died on the cross. So Jesus is one who hates sin but one who is kind to the sinners. Jesus concludes the subject, “It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire” (Matthew 18:8-9). David received grace for he trusted in the saving power of God and in eternal life. Now, what  is that I want to be – a stumbling block or a stepping stone in one’s life?