Together in Christ: 'Warped!' — Proverbs 12:8

Have you ever had someone do a building project and use a warped board somewhere in their work? Not good! Nothing related to that board is ever straight. You are always trying to make compensating adjustments for the warped board. The work takes much longer, and there are constant problems to overcome.

Things are very similar with a person with a warped mind. They are constantly meddling in unhealthy ideas, ways to get out of work, ways to cheat others, ways to get away with laziness, ways to blame others, ways to have inappropriate sexual liaisons, and ways to waste time on their phones.

Unfortunately, nearly all of us will be forced to work or live near someone with a warped mind. These warped people seem oblivious that people avoid them and dislike their evil intentions. Some warped minds even feel superior to those around them — they believe they are braver, smarter, more creative, and more productive. Such people drag down productivity and morale. So, how do we cope with such people when we can't escape them? What do we do when the "stay away from every form of evil" ^[1] solution is impossible?

I found two solutions in Scripture that are really attractive to me, and I hope you find them useful:

Strategy One: A Prayer for Our Times of Frustration

End the evil of those who are wicked, and defend the righteous. For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God. ^[2]

Strategy Two: A Declaration of Our Values

Get out of my life, you evil-minded people, for I intend to obey the commands of my God. ^[3]

Both are ways for us to remember who we are and Whose we are!