People are prone to play games and to push their agenda in our lives. And while we’re free to follow them whenever it’s wise to do so, we must watch out for the webs they weave so as to not simply fall prey to their agenda. We miss the freedom God has for us when we’re caught in the crafty web of others.
To be sure, not everyone has our best interest in mind. Nor are they always guiding us toward the good God has for us despite the smooth and flattering words they might offer. Often we’re just pawns in the game they’re playing – consumed for their benefit rather than truly helping us in our journey.
To be fair, this is not always conscious or malicious on their part, but it causes harm in our life all the same. And for our part we must be wise and discerning to avoid the webs they weave.
In short, this means we don’t blindly go along with the suggestions of others, even those in positions of authority, without first testing the spirits. Just because something appears good, is poplar, or comes from a person of influence doesn’t mean it’s from God. And we become easy prey when we don’t have this discernment.
Of course, it’s not always necessary to know the heart and motivations of others to avoid their webs. In fact, we might never know what they were up to and why they were trying to get us to do certain things. Our first responsibility here is not to know why, but simply to avoid getting caught in the web.
We’re choosing not to play whatever game they’re playing and to keep our eyes focused on what God has for us. This allows us to maintain our freedom and power to impact the world for good.
Watch out for the games people play and the webs they weave. You don’t have to understand it, just avoid getting trapped in anything that keeps you from God’s best.
Photo by Nicolas Picard on Unsplash
