Christ First Forum

Is there any type of guidelines that are in the Bible that says when someone in our earthly
family takes advantage of us..that we can't do something about it?

My brother at the present time is definitely taking advantage of me.
But i'm always afraid that if I do something about it God may be displeased in some form
or fashion.

I'm also afraid that it will lead me back into a past that I never want to see again.
But like my Mom who never did anything either about him..I need to break this chain.

Everything I do literally I wonder if Jesus approves or not.
Yes I know he will forgive but I don't want to displease him.

Can anyone help on this?

Mind you I love my brothers and my sister no matter what they do..
whether they are hurting me or not. I know there is just one life to live
and all I can do is my best.
But I know sooner or later I will not handle this situation correctly and asking
for help before I get to this point.

Hi Anna, Carmela has simmed up a lot of what I would have to say on the matter.

The bible says to ask for wisdom and He will give it to us. James 1:5

I don't know exactly what it is that your family member has done and I can only speculate, but what I have found out that in general that there are those who will take advantage of your kindness. They often think that just because you are a Christian then they find a way of using you. Like Carmela said, yes we are to love people but we are not suppose to allow them to abuse us mentally, physically and spiritually. You have to establish boundaries and take a stand because you are fighting against principalities. I hope you know that. They may not know they are devil advocates or the devil is using them, but he works that way. He has come to steal, kill and destroy. Take you life, Steal your joy, and destroy your witness.

Put on the whole armor of God. Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Truth
Righteousness
The Gospel
Faith
Salvation
The Word
Prayer

All of these we need to use when dealing with what you are dealing with.

There will come a point when you must take a stand and say enough is enough.

We can do that in love but very strong in our stance.

Like I said, with out knowing the situation, I can only surmise by what I am told and what I prayed about for you.