Last evening during a fellowship time here at Bethel, two of our young children (about age three) were found across the street playing in the neighbor’s sprinkler. It reminded me of the liabilities we incurred years ago by having a swimming pool. It is called the “doctrine of an attractive nuisance”.
“In the law of torts, the attractive nuisance doctrine states that a landowner may be held liable for injuries to children trespassing on the land if the injury is caused by a hazardous object or condition on the land that is likely to attract children who are unable to appreciate the risk posed by the object or condition. The doctrine has been applied to hold landowners liable for injuries caused by abandoned cars, piles of lumber or sand, trampolines, and swimming pools. However, it can be applied to virtually anything on the property of the landowner.”
These two children were quite easily distracted and attracted on a hot summer evening by the promise and joy of a water sprinkler. It makes me think about how easily our old enemy Satan distracts and attracts God’s children who are in the heat and discomfort of spiritual battles with the temptations of ease and relief through the things of this world. I suppose it was much like this for Solomon in his latter days. Could it not be said that he sought all those women as a distraction from the weight and responsibilities of the kingdom?
My question to you is have you become distracted? Have you been drawn into vain and useless activities and lost your compass and direction as a child of God? This is the only time you have to serve God in the venue of faith. It really is a precious opportunity.
