SUSPICIOUS

To be suspicious can be good or bad depending on the circumstances.  We are often told to watch out for suspicious behaviour and report, as appropriate, when someone is acting deviously.  Most of us would be suspicious of people who are lurking in our neighbourhood and appear to have no motive for being there.  However, being suspicious becomes a shortcoming when we distrust a person or program because of our calculated thinking of how we want things to be.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. (Romans 12:3 NIV)

In addiction it was easy to accuse others of things we suspected they did, whether we had proof or not.  Accusing a person without proof causes anger and resentment and perhaps even violence. In an intimate relationship, one person may be suspicious of their partner if they appear to pay attention to another person and, in a volatile relationship, this may even cause the suspicious person to become violent. 

So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.” (Luke 3:14b NKJV)

There are times when our self-protection and character defects incline us to suspect evil intention in another person and react to what we think, rather than what is true. Someone may have decided to clear up junk that has been lying around only to have another person accuse them of stealing their belongings.  We need to look for good in what is happening rather than being suspicious of what we are not familiar with. Suspicion could be settled by a willingness to speak with the person involved and hear what they have to say.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Please help me to be more considerate of others and less inclined to self-protection. I ask for the gift of thinking good thoughts about others rather than finding fault.  Amen