“Don’t Be a Crab!”

Scripture: “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” –Romans 14:13, NIV

Within society today, there’s a big thing that occurs that is truly a disservice to our brother/sister. This disservice is known as the “Crab Syndrome”. “Crab Syndrome” is defined as one trying to impede another’s progress when it comes to climbing the ladder within life (Corporate America, the church, family, etc.). It’s really sad because some of the most talented people get caught from this syndrome. Some of the most caring people get caught from this syndrome. Some of the most anointed people (for a season) get caught by this syndrome. Today, God challenges each of us to not be a crab! He challenges each of us to step up and propel our brother/sister into their next dimension/level. God challenges us to not be crabs through the words of the Apostle Paul. Let’s further examine the text.

As the case with yesterday’s message, today’s main scripture is found in the Pauline Epistle to the church at Rome. In recapping Chapter 14, Paul deals with two types of Christians, as one is indicated in verse 1 and the other is implied: weak and strong. One thing I encourage those of you that are “strong” in the faith, is to continue to be kind and love those who are “weak” in the faith, pray their strength that they might grow and eventually bring other saints into the fold. As Paul continued his message about the weak and strong, he passed along some critical information to them, as well as us, in why we should not be crabs within our world/society on today.

The first part of the text, Paul tells us this: “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another”. If truth were told, in one form or another, we do this pretty regularly. In order not to be a crab, God is challenging us not to pass judgment on each other! If you see a sister wearing a short skirt and stiletto pumps, do not pass judgment on her thinking she’s trying to be a hoochie! That skirt and pumps may be the only thing she possesses in her wardrobe to suit whatever purpose! Remember what Jesus told us in Matthew 7, which was mentioned in yesterday’s message, to be careful how you judge because if you judge a certain way, you will be judged by the same certain way you judged the individual! Crabs judge! Crabs condemn people without knowing a person’s circumstances! If you do this, then God again, is asking you to stop passing judgment on your brother and your sister!

Here’s a piece of advice Paul gave the Roman church and relays to us today: “Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister”. In other words, as Ludacris use to sing, make a conscious decision to “move, get out the way!” Oftentimes, our biggest stumbling blocks, outside of ourselves, to getting the blessings in lives, is the fact that we have people who want to be obstacles! It’s the fact that we stay in the way of family members who want to go to college, but we don’t want them to leave! It’s the fact that some of our brothers/sisters have been called to ministry and yet, we’re afraid that we’ll get lost! It’s the fact that some of our brothers/sisters have been called to pastor, and yet there are people who put their mouth on them saying he/she cannot! Well, God says to you on today, and us as a people, don’t be a crab! He is telling us to do what we can NOT to be a stumbling block or an obstacle! Anyone who is reading today’s message who desires God to take them to the next level, my prayer for you is that God does it for you! When we “declaw” the crabs, we do it by praying for our brothers! We do it by encouraging our brothers! We do it by forgiving our brothers! Make up in your mind today to live for God and not have the crab tendencies of holding people back!

In closing, God loves us SO much! He loves us so much that He gives us new mercies every day and opportunities to make things right with our fellow man! My encouragement to you, again, is that you do everything you can not to be a crab! Paul tells us how within the text: Do not pass judgment on your brother/sister and to make up your mind not to be a stumbling block/obstacle. If you do that, then God will remove the stumbling blocks that are in your way that you may reach the next level in glory!

“Deuces!”

Scripture: “ … But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” –Philippians 3:13, NIV

As I was driving on yesterday, I started to take listen to a song that’s been out for a while. It’s a song done by Chris Brown, with a remix that features a slew of today’s hottest hip-hop artists: Drake, Rick Ross, and Kanye West to name a few. The name of this song that I’m referencing is today’s title: “Deuces”. Within this song, Brown is letting the listeners know that he can do better with the lady/things he has chosen. Within the chorus of his song, you hear Brown say, “I am moving on to something better, no more trying to make it work, Deuces!, Makes me want to say bye bye, say bye bye, say bye bye to her, Deuces!” If we were to hit the switch on this from a spiritual standpoint, each of us have some things we can say “Deuces” or bye bye to! There are things that are slowing us up to better things. Let today’s main scripture provide you encouragement to give the “Deuces”, Peace, See You Later, sign to within your life.

Philippians serves as today’s backdrop for our message. A prison-bound Paul is writing to the church at Philippi, a church that’s very close to his heart. Scholars reveal that the target audience of this letter was the bishops and deacons in Philippi (refer to Philippians 1:1). Within this epistle/letter/book, Paul addresses two areas: there’s no confidence in the flesh (verses 1 – 14) and encouraging the Philippian church to follow his example (verses 15 – 21). Within Paul’s discussion of not having confidence in the flesh is where we’re launched into our scripture for today.

Paul writes within the first piece of our scripture for today this: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind”. In other words, Paul gave “Deuces” to his past! Paul gave “Deuces” to what he use to be as a persecutor of Christians! My encouragement to you on today is to forget what is behind you. Give your past “Deuces”! Give your past financial issues “Deuces”! Give your past marital issues “Deuces”! Give your past work hang-ups “Deuces”! Give your past eating habits “Deuces”! Whatever that is holding you back from getting the things God has for you, give it “Deuces”!

When you forget those things that are behind you and give it “Deuces”, then do what Paul says in the latter part of the text: “Straining toward what is ahead”. In other words, it’s time to forge ahead and move into a greater anointing! It’s time to move ahead and forge into a greater “wealthy” place! It’s time to move ahead and forge into giving yourself a better marriage with your spouse! It’s time to move ahead and forge into giving yourself a better life as a single person! It’s time to move ahead and forge into giving you and your family a better life and provide “Deuces” to past heartache and pain! Many of us cannot escape the past, but if you cannot do it, then you cannot strain toward to what’s ahead! Ahead of you are blessings! Ahead of you is peace! Ahead of you is life and life more abundantly! Ahead of you is greatness within yourself, greatness within your workplace, greatness in every aspect of your life! In order to get ahead, you have to plow ahead and make an effort to get there, there being ahead!

In closing, “Deuces”, Peace, See You Later, is something we tell our friends when we’re leaving them to do other things. Tell your demonic enemies/spirits/enemies inside of you that I am giving you the “Deuces” and it’s time for me to get bigger and better things! Are you ready for those things? If so, tell the past “Deuces” and say Hello to your future!