“When Your Hands Are Tied”

One of the most difficult, perplexing, and heartrending situations is when one must sit back and watch others make decisions the results of which will create more problems than the decision-makers ever thought. In fact, what compounds the problem is when one knows that those making the decisions think that their choice is the solution to a legitimate problem or problems. 

There is a further compounding of the problem when the decision-makers have been taught correctly and yet to no benefit concerning the decisions they make. In circumstances of this nature, some persons are moved to ask, what can we do to help the situation? The answer many times is: At this point there is nothing anyone can do that has not been done. 

To volunteer information to those who could have asked such of you but did not is folly. Under such circumstances people simply open themselves up to all manner of unwarranted charges and accusations. People need to learn where their responsibility begins and ends in trying to help others. Thus, under such circumstances and insofar as being able to help, honest folks must finally conclude that their hands are tied. 

God’s hands were tied regarding Adam and Eve’s decision to sin. God had informed them as to what was right and wrong and told them of the consequences if they chose to sin. Their choice and its blessings or consequences was theirs alone to make (Genesis 3). Such has been the case with God and man to the present and will continue for all time. What else could or can God do? (Romans 1:21-32; 3:23; Revelation 22:17). 

Parent’s hands are tied regarding their children’s decisions. Besides setting a Christian example before their children, godly parents have the responsibility of teaching, training, and disciplining them (Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 22:6). Some children, while still in the home, will appreciate none of this and decide to go their own way. In such situations when all is said and done if children are rebellious enough, there comes the time when there is nothing that parents can do to change the rebellious child. Remember, after others have done all that they can do, change is effected by the person who needs to change (Joshua 24:15; Acts 2:40; 8:22; II Peter 3:9; Revelation 2:5). 

As a faithful member of the Lord’s church many times one’s hands are tied regarding the various decisions other church members make insofar as changing said members (II Timothy 4:10; Revelation 2:21-25). Even when such decisions will have a detrimental impact on the whole church, there comes the time when the faithful child of God must conclude that at least at this juncture there is nothing else that can be done to alter the matter (Hosea 4:17; III John 9); especially is this true regarding false teachers. Some brethren just will not be warned. 

Finally, when all is said and done, the faithful children of God can and must act to protect themselves and other faithful brethren from the consequences of wrong decisions made by others (Joshua 9:1-21). What else could or can a faithful child of God do? “I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contraryto the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Romans 16:17). 

David P. Brown