Prepare: It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Read: Luke 6:27-38
There is a little frame on my office desk which reads, "Always give people more than they expect." It is particularly difficult to follow that when you are in a position to make decisions on employee salaries, perks and facilities.
Celebrities and common people alike are appreciated and celebrated when they make a contribution to a charity or cause. Books, which encourage people to perform random acts of kindness to complete strangers, have gone on to become best sellers. People attribute the 'other cheek' concept to modern leaders. But all these thoughts and instructions are found here in today's passage. The 'Golden Rule' in verse 31 is the central theme of this passage: "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you." And then do a little more. This is the true essence of the exhortation that we have to be like Christ. God loves even the evil ones. Christ demonstrated this on the cross. It is difficult for us as humans, but we are expected to endeavour constantly towards this.
I would want to quickly make a point about v38. I recently saw a Christian's personal website that listed all special offerings and contributions made by the site owner to various organizations. But what really hit me in the face was that next to each of these contributions was a promise/blessing/material possession that he is expecting in return. We do not give a gift so we can ask for a bigger return gift. Let us not bargain with God.
Respond: Father, help me put the Golden Rule to practice.
Read: Luke 6:27-38
There is a little frame on my office desk which reads, "Always give people more than they expect." It is particularly difficult to follow that when you are in a position to make decisions on employee salaries, perks and facilities.
Celebrities and common people alike are appreciated and celebrated when they make a contribution to a charity or cause. Books, which encourage people to perform random acts of kindness to complete strangers, have gone on to become best sellers. People attribute the 'other cheek' concept to modern leaders. But all these thoughts and instructions are found here in today's passage. The 'Golden Rule' in verse 31 is the central theme of this passage: "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you." And then do a little more. This is the true essence of the exhortation that we have to be like Christ. God loves even the evil ones. Christ demonstrated this on the cross. It is difficult for us as humans, but we are expected to endeavour constantly towards this.
I would want to quickly make a point about v38. I recently saw a Christian's personal website that listed all special offerings and contributions made by the site owner to various organizations. But what really hit me in the face was that next to each of these contributions was a promise/blessing/material possession that he is expecting in return. We do not give a gift so we can ask for a bigger return gift. Let us not bargain with God.
Respond: Father, help me put the Golden Rule to practice.
No comments:
Post a Comment