In every part of life there are shortcuts. Some come with experience however many are pure seemingly once in a lifetime opportunities that show up from time to time. Knowing if and when to take the easier path is the question presented to each, yet our motivations for accepting or rejecting are as varied as people involved. Some of the opportunities cross all the barriers; they are so common that it is easy to view them as normal behavior instead of a choice.
Take guilt for example, specifically exploiting or creating guilt so that a specific action is taken for your benefit. Every parent and student of human behavior has at one time or another faced the question of using this emotion for their own ends. While there are always elements of truth woven in the exercise the use of the emotion is a specific form of blackmail to achieve an action that otherwise would not readily occur.
Try shame or criticism on for size. I shudder at the number of times I use embarrassment as a tool to achieve results. All forms of putting people down so that they will rise to the occasion for the wrong reason.
How does gossip look. Fairly attractive most of the time is my answer; seems to work as well. Why not use the tools that are available?
The list goes on and then on some more. Misleading promises, unrealistic hope, and outright lies all stir people into action for a time. We easily rationalize our words in the hope that we do not see them for what they are however the truth always haunts. Exploitation in all its forms continues to be actively found apparently unaware that acceptance, mercy, and compassion are cures to this form of slavery.
The true facts are that “good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.” (Proverbs 16.12) We make think shortcuts are answers but they never are; especially because of what they do to the person using them.
Looking to easy solutions? God has an answer, always.
