Readings:
Job 16
I Corinthians 10:14-33
Focus:
I Corinthians 10:23a: "'We are free to do anything,' you say. Yes, but not everything is good for us."
Many of the early Christians were happy that they had been released from the ceremonial laws of the Jewish religion, and were glad to proclaim that they were free to do anything. But Paul is quick here to remind them that not everything is good for them, and that not everything builds up the community. They must even more than before use their judgment (and turn to God in prayer) to know what they ought to do, and ought to refrain from doing.
The same is true of us. We may not be bound by a lot of rules and regulations, but we must always think of whether an action is helpful or kind or healthy. And above all, we must think of whether what we do helps bring God's kingdom closer, or works against it. I try to use this last test of my actions whenever I can (or, being a faulty human, whenever I remember it!)
It feels good when we know that we are doing what is for the good rather than what is for the bad.
Showing posts with label our actions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label our actions. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Let Our Aims Be Such as All Count Honorable
Readings:
Esther 3
Romans 12:17-21
Focus:
Romans 12:17: "Never pay back evil for evil. Let your aims be such as all count honorable."
This sounds great and even easy to do upon first reading. But it's actually quite hard when we think about it a little longer. And it's also quite a good goal.
For example, it might be pretty tempting to cut a bad driver off in the anonymity of freeway driving in order to get to the lane we want and get to our destination as quickly as we want. But pretty much everyone would generally think that it's honorable to not cut off another driver. So that should be our aim, and we should not do it, no matter how anonymous we might feel. Who knows what the bad driver's story might be, or what might be the result of our driving?
It's pretty tempting to speak sarcastically to someone who has annoyed us. But pretty much everyone would generally think that it's honorable not to speak unkindly. So that should be our aim, and we should not do it, no matter how satisfying it might feel at the time. Who knows what pain we might be inflicting, or what lack of understanding we might have about our own actions that have led to the other person's annoyance?
And in the long run, God has asked it of us. That should be enough. We don't pay back evil for evil, because we obey God. We let our aims be such as all count honorable.
Esther 3
Romans 12:17-21
Focus:
Romans 12:17: "Never pay back evil for evil. Let your aims be such as all count honorable."
This sounds great and even easy to do upon first reading. But it's actually quite hard when we think about it a little longer. And it's also quite a good goal.
For example, it might be pretty tempting to cut a bad driver off in the anonymity of freeway driving in order to get to the lane we want and get to our destination as quickly as we want. But pretty much everyone would generally think that it's honorable to not cut off another driver. So that should be our aim, and we should not do it, no matter how anonymous we might feel. Who knows what the bad driver's story might be, or what might be the result of our driving?
It's pretty tempting to speak sarcastically to someone who has annoyed us. But pretty much everyone would generally think that it's honorable not to speak unkindly. So that should be our aim, and we should not do it, no matter how satisfying it might feel at the time. Who knows what pain we might be inflicting, or what lack of understanding we might have about our own actions that have led to the other person's annoyance?
And in the long run, God has asked it of us. That should be enough. We don't pay back evil for evil, because we obey God. We let our aims be such as all count honorable.
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