More on Manipulation

A friend recently told me of a guilt trip someone tried to put him on.  He has long since determined not to go on guilt trips, especially those imposed by a certain individual he has long dealt with.  Trouble is, his rebellion against this manipulator backfired.  The right thing to do, was the thing he was being manipulated into.  But in opposition to the manipulation, he refused to do the right thing.  Now he is still on a guilt trip, but one self imposed rather than inflicted upon him.

 Here then is the rub.  The manipulator’s influence resulted in the exact opposite of the manipulator’s desire.  Had the manipulator stayed out of it, he would have come far closer to accomplishing his desire than he did by imposing his guilt trip on my friend.

I suspect this is epidemic in our society.  I see much of it (both sides) in my own behavior.  I now have to ask myself:  Is this behavior the right thing to do?  Am I rebelling against the behavior, or am I rebelling against someone who is trying to manipulate me into doing it?  Do I rebel against God because I am still harboring the notion that He is manipulating me?  Am I rebelling against God because I’m rebelling against the manipulation of someone else?  Is my failure to do what is right an indication that because of my pride I refuse to give my manipulating associates the satisfaction of thinking they got me to do whatever it is?

It is indeed a humble thing to do, to go ahead and do the right thing, when someone is laboring under the impression that they deserve the credit because they got you to do it.