Sure, Go Ahead and Fail

Did you know we occasionally give someone the LICENSE TO FAIL?
A common example is when we have great expectations from a political or powerful figure, expecting them to uphold their office with responsibility, dependability, and accountability to the tax-paying public who put them where they are. We expect them to make good honest decisions which affect the vast multitudes... and yet we overlook character flaws and accountability in their personal life! We give license to stumble in the important intimate areas but not in the vast public areas.

We make excuses such as, "all great men in history have had similar appetites and have done the same type of thing." We are all too willing to overlook and give a second chance to them... and yet we would never make such a statement or hold the same sentiments if it were someone close and dear to us. We would never want anyone who personally matters to be unfaithful and fail in that same area. On the one hand we proclaim, "their unfaithfulness doesn't really matter on how well they handle the nation", but we would never have those same sentiments regarding the person we love and care about! Some people never are able to forgive when they feel betrayed by a parent or spouse.

When Israel's king David fell for another man's wife; blatantly acted upon it; and covered it up to the point of insuring the non-survival of that man, the prophet Nathan confronted the king. He considered these little 'personal matters' to be nationally important. The prophet in no way granted any license to fail, but instead passed along the prophetic sentence that though fully forgiven, the king would still pay dearly for his actions (through personal turmoil, tragedy, betrayal, deceit, and maladies). It was only through the king's honest sorrow, regret, and genuine repentance that worse consequences didn't come his way as well.

So, let's just confess and admit that "Yes, I do allow some people to fail in some areas... but I do so selectively and hypercritically. I often use differing and various standards on myself; on loved ones; on the prestigious; and on the unimportant people." Lets just hope the One who really matters doesn't use the same measure that we so often do. I'm sure He doesn't.