“How are you?”
“Fine. You?”
“Wonderful, thank you.”
Is this a familiar conversation? Most likely, this is a dialogue saturated with lies. This shallow use of generic words do nothing but make both participants “feel good” and really makes no contribution to socialization nor does it promote any tangible concern. Why do we not just bid our meetings with a mere “hello”? Instead, we want to appear to be concerned when we really could care less about the events surroundings and circumstances of our conversational partner. If we were truly concerned, I think we should specify our inquiry. For example, we could ask about a known situation and then LISTEN to the response. Maybe we could even contribute our honest views on the situation. (all provided with positive concern and critiques made in love and constructed with cordially formed words and phrases). People allegedly are endowed with above average intelligence, yet we seldom engage our brains and level of attention when we interact with each other.
Maybe I have grown jaded and cynical in my old age, but If we take the time to greet someone, we should at least offer an honest extension of ourselves to uplift our fellow human-being. Basically, do not ask the question if you do not want to know the answer. All too often, the only support we offer is that “we will pray for you”. Most of the time this is merely a nice way of saying that we really do not care to get involved, not do we really want to hear about it. We could run the risk of feeling like we have to get involved in the solution of whatever challenge is met. I am not saying that a financially challenged person should squander their meager sustenance that could put you in the same situation as the initial problem. But, at the same time, the same person could possible provide another view and possible solutions that may have been masked in the “heat of the fight”. Many times when we are waist deep in alligators, we forget that our initial objective is to drain the swamp. Another point of view can help us re-focus our efforts and meet our personal challenges more effectively. But IF we are able, we should not be afraid to actively provide the assistance needed to help our fellow laborers.
Luke 12:35 - 48 “Get dressed for service and keep your lamps burning; be like people waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. Blessed are those slaves whom their master finds alert when he returns! I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, have them take their place at the table, and will come and wait on them! Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, blessed are those slaves! But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Then Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” The Lord replied, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his household servants, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds at work when he returns. I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave should say to himself, ‘My master is delayed in returning,’ and he begins to beat the other slaves, both men and women, and to eat, drink, and get drunk, then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know his master’s will and did things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.
This is a particularly challenging lesson that we tend to overlook when we don the “Robe of Christianity”. God has blessed us with many gifts and talents that we are responsible for managing. We are required to use these abilities and resources to advance “The Kingdom”. Unfortunately, Christianity has been the excuse for far too many murders, rapes and other atrocities. By ignoring our responsibility to our brethren, we are committing a serious sin and cheating ourselves from the potential greater reward of stewardship and heavenly treasures. I believe that we should spend our talents (financial as well as physical and spiritual gifts) in a responsible manner that provides the greatest return to our LORD and CREATOR and not to be hoarded for ourselves. In Luke 12:34, Jesus says “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Paul provides guidance on how we should address our talents and gifts in Romans 12 :
Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.
For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith. For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function, so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another. And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith. If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach - if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.
Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another. Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
May God Bless You and Yours
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