Matthew 18:6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones — those who believe in me — to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Pet rocks, Cabbage Patch Dolls, Star Wars Memorabilia. What do these three things have in common? (Insert 30 seconds of thinking.) They are all things that people have collected that they think will rise in value over time. The list of things like this could almost be endless. People place value in things that are seemingly very limited in value.
What a society values gets played out in everyday life. For instance, we can tell so much about someone by how they spend their money. Grownup toys fill the backyards and garages across the country. The boats, jet skies, campers, and muscle cars that just sit and rot, only to be used once or twice a year amazes me. What a waste!
Jesus has something to say about value, what He sees as important, what He values. The first thing I notice, that often gets missed or overlooked, is that Jesus values those who believe in Him. All humans have value, but those who believe in Him have a greater value. They are worth saving.
The previous verses spoke about the value of little children. The disciples wanted to know who was the greatest in the Kingdom, and Jesus tells them it is children. What is important to note is that children, because of the high mortality rate, were often not really valued until they had survived infancy and childhood. If Jesus were here today He might talk about a child in the womb. So many children died before reaching adulthood, that the death of children was expected.
So for Jesus to lift up children was shocking, just as lifting up the value of a child in the womb might be for our society at large. And then Jesus gives the shocking value of those who believe in Him. He does this by laying out the punishment for those who would cause a follower to abandon their faith.
This is harsh! Throw someone who leads a believer astray into the lake with concrete blocks tied around their neck. This sounds like a mob hit, doesn’t it! This is the value of a believer.
Jesus is serious about the value of those who believe in Him, and the folly of leading someone away from the faith. Nothing could be worse. Hands and eyes fall victim to the value of a believer. Let nothing stand in the way of someone who believes in Him. Avoid doing things that might cause someone to stumble in their faith.
This sense of accountability for another’s faith journey is daunting. Belief is a valued thing in Jesus’ eyes. His followers have inestimable value.
We need to see others with this value scale. I am concerned for those who seemingly have drifted from the fellowship of believers. Fear of COVID seems to be leading the pack of reasons for not gathering. But how long can a coal stay hot when it is separated from the rest? I am gravely concerned. I hope you are as well.
The Arnold Journey 