Dharius Daniels - Life be Lifing and People be Peopling

Life is life, but because people are people, did you hear what I just said? It’s not just that life is life; it’s that people are people. This is because God has created the human species to live with interdependence, and as a result, I can be directly or indirectly impacted by the activities of others. This means that some of the adversity that you and I experience isn’t just tied to the decisions we make. Some of the adversity we experience is also tied to the decisions that other people make. As long as you have residents in this world, you will have to deal with some sort of adversity. He said, «I want you to know that so when it happens, you have peace.» I want you to know this so that when it happens, you’re not thinking, «This isn’t supposed to happen to me.» He said he wants you to know this because some peace doesn’t just come through prayer; some peace comes through preparation. Some of us would have more peace if we were more prepared. Come on, talk to me. I said some of us would have a little more peace if we were more prepared. I’m sharing this so you have peace. As long as you have residence in this world, you’re going to face adversity. Why? Because you live in an imperfect world. This means that this world is not functioning according to the original intent of the Creator, and as a result, the entire created order is impacted. Life happens in ways we can’t control or predict—economic downturns, tornadoes that destroy everything you’ve spent your whole life building, tsunamis, unexplainable illnesses that come out of nowhere. Sometimes we have to deal with adversity because life happens, and sometimes we have to deal with adversity not because we live in an imperfect world, but because we happen. Come on and talk back to the preacher today! I said, because we happen, as imperfect people living in an imperfect world, we have the ability to make imperfect decisions, and every decision carries the potential to produce a season. Some seasons we endure are a result of our own choices. Sometimes the enemy is the inner me, so life happens; I happen. But also, there’s adversity we face—this is where we’re going to land today—because people happen. Yes, sometimes we encounter adversity not just because life is life, but because people are people. Did you hear what I just said? It’s not just that life is life, but that people are people. This is because God has made the human species interdependent, and as a result, I can be directly or indirectly affected by the activities of others. This means that some of the adversity we experience isn’t just tied to our decisions. Some of the adversity we face is also connected to the decisions of others. When others are making good decisions, we can be blessed; when they are making bad decisions, we can be burdened. This means you’re going to hit a season in life where you become the victim of someone else’s imperfection, where you are detrimentally impacted by someone else’s dysfunction. This is why I said this in the first service, but I feel the need to reiterate this point: you must be so conscious and careful when entering into covenantal relationships with people. You shouldn’t enter into such relationships solely based on appearances or financial status. I need to know what kind of choices you make. I need to know if you are responsible with your decisions because when I enter into a relationship with you, I am not just benefiting from your good choices; I am also affected by your bad choices. I want to know what kind of decisions you make. We are impacted by the imperfections of others. It’s one thing to navigate a season of struggle because of your own actions; it’s another matter entirely to navigate through a season of struggle because of what was done to you. Did you hear what I just said? It can be hugely upsetting, agitating, and unnerving when you experience the agony of injury from individuals who are not only neglecting their impact but also don’t care.