There are rules and then there are RULES.  Do YOU have rules in your house?  Elizabeth has rules at HER house.  Maybe some of the rules at her house are different from the rules at your house.  At ELIZABETH’S house she is not allowed to stomp her hooves on her bedroom floor when she is angry.  She is not allowed to bump her head on the chandelier in the dining room.  And she must run to the back yard if she has to throw up a hairball.   I don’t know if you have any of those rules in your house or not. 

Another rule that Elizabeth has is:  You must look both ways before crossing the street.  Well, today, her parents are watching Polly and Haman Potato.  They stayed at their gramma’s place at the retirement home all night last night.  They are HERE to give Mrs. Potato Head a break!  So, anyway, here they are with Elizabeth playing in her front yard. 

They are all playing dodge ball.  Elizabeth threw the ball at Polly and hit her. Polly threw the ball at Haman and hit him.  Haman threw the ball at Polly  . . . and missed her.

And the ball went across the street!

Now, Elizabeth went to the edge of the street and looked both ways to see if a car was coming, because THAT is the rule in her family.  Polly said  in an excited voice “Are you going to cross the street?!  I’m going to tell!  You are not allowed to cross the street!”

Now, Elizabeth KNOWS that it can be dangerous to cross the street.  That is why her parents have taught her to look BOTH ways before crossing.  And they live on a very quiet street. 

Elizabeth ALSO knows that Polly and Haman live on a very BUSY street.  So they must not be allowed to cross the street alone.

Elizabeth THOUGHT about crossing anyway.  Elizabeth DOES have permission to cross the street.  But she also thought about how little Polly and Haman might follow her into the street or cross it alone without looking.  So she decided to explain to them:  “I AM allowed to cross the street because I look both ways and I AM a little older than you are.”

But Polly just kept saying (in a sing-song fashion) “I’m gonna tell, I’m gonna tell.”  Elizabeth looked at Haman and he had that kind of look that said “Whatever you going to do, I will do too!”    Elizabeth thought a moment and said “Okay, I’ll ask my Dad to get the ball.”

And Mr. Mawakasunga came out of the garage and retrieved the ball for them.

Now, what happened here is that Elizabeth KNEW she would NOT break a rule to cross the street, but because Polly thought it WAS breaking a rule, Elizabeth decided NOT to do it, because it MIGHT bring harm to Polly and Haman..

That is what the Bible lesson from 1 Corinthians is about this morning.  Sometimes, even when YOU know it is okay to do something, if you FRIEND says “NO, IT BREAKS THE RULES,” then perhaps you should NOT do it.  Simple as that. 

DON’T DO SOMETHING – EVEN IF IT IS ALLOWED – THAT MIGHT HARM YOUR FRIEND.

THE END

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