Warning Signs

Warning Signs

“But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours
become a stumbling block to those who are weak.”

I Corinthians 8:9

Seeing a warning label on a snow blower the other day to “keep hands away from spinning blades” brought a chuckle. It reminded me of my all time favorite warning sign, found on I-94 north of Detroit:

PRISON AREA: DO NOT PICK UP HITCHHIKERS

While I have no doubt that the sign is well intentioned, it has somewhat weakened my confidence in Michigan’s Department of Corrections. But at least it has the goal of protecting the person reading the sign. Most warning signs are placed on power tools, appliances and other items, not for the safety of the reader but to protect the company from lawsuits arising from misuse of their product. McDonald’s “Contents Are Hot!” warning label on their coffee is a classic example, born out of a lawsuit, filed and won, by someone who burned themselves with “too hot” coffee.

God’s warnings to you and I are quite different; they are placed in the Word for our sake and our sake alone. They have been given to keep us from needless suffering and sorrow and from bearing the fruit of wrong choices and decisions. I Corinthians 10:12 is a great example of that:

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”

Paul was writing and warning about the danger of being overconfidence in ourselves and losing that sense of depending and leaning on the Lord. So often, when everything is going good in our lives, we drift from that place of reliance upon God to trusting in our own ability. And it doesn’t take long for us to get in trouble and make mistakes when God is out of the picture. The scripture at the top of the page is a warning to consider the effects our actions will have on others before we act so that we don’t cause someone who is weak in their faith or new in the Lord to stumble and fall. What is freedom for one person can cause real difficulty and trouble for another. Paul’s warning to consider that in our choices and actions was so that we had a right effect on those around us.

As we read the Word, let’s keep in mind that all the “take heed’s” and “bewares” are there for our benefit. God knows our hearts and our predispositions; He knows our every strength and our particular weaknesses. His warnings are always redemptive, strategically placed for our good. God’s only hidden agenda is His incredible love for you and I. Let’s be more open than ever to His Word being a lamp for our feet and a light for our path.



God Bless
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church