Post by Cindy on Jun 24, 2015 12:11:12 GMT -5
The Bible says we're to always Honor one another above ourselves; and consider others better than ourselves. That we should look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others. That our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. And Jesus was as selfless as you can get. (John 5:30) The world says to put yourself first, but God says He should be first, others second and yourself last. (1 Corinthians 10:24; Philippians 2:3–5; Romans 12:10)
Nourishing ourselves is the world's idea. God nourishes us and enables us to do His Will as we rely on Him. He doesn't want us to "be strong in ourselves," He wants to show His strength through our weakness. As for God not wanting us to be someone's punching bag, then why did He say: “But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:39–42) And why did Peter say: “But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:20–21) Those are all the world's ideas, not God's. God tells us that He will take the evil we endure and change it so that it works for our good, He doesn't say that we won't or shouldn't have to deal with evil. He wants us to respond with His sacrificial love no matter what's done to us or said to us. Period. This is why Paul says: “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)
As you can easily see, even just these few scriptures show us God's Will in this matter. We are not to put ourselves first or even second. We are to put ourselves last. This is how the first Christian's lived their daily lives and why so many were saved at first because they saw how very different they were from the rest of the world. If you read the Gospels and how Jesus trained His disciples, you'll see that He made sure that they had time to rest and eat, but also that if someone was in need or anything- help, healing, hearing God's Truth, or whatever - Jesus had them get up and help that person or persons first and only when they were taken care of did they then get to rest or finish eating etc. All through the Bible we're shown that God wants us to show love to others no matter what they do or say to us. Jesus even tells us that what we do and say to others (or don't do or don't say) is the same as if we were doing and saying it to Him.
What are we to do then? We're to rely on God, not ourselves. We're to be in His Word every day, for it's through His Word that He renews our hearts and minds, sanctifies us, strengthens us and enables us to carry out His Will on a day to day basis. (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 5:26; John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 4:16–18; Ephesians 4:22–24; 2 Peter 1:3)
Nourishing ourselves is the world's idea. God nourishes us and enables us to do His Will as we rely on Him. He doesn't want us to "be strong in ourselves," He wants to show His strength through our weakness. As for God not wanting us to be someone's punching bag, then why did He say: “But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:39–42) And why did Peter say: “But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:20–21) Those are all the world's ideas, not God's. God tells us that He will take the evil we endure and change it so that it works for our good, He doesn't say that we won't or shouldn't have to deal with evil. He wants us to respond with His sacrificial love no matter what's done to us or said to us. Period. This is why Paul says: “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)
As you can easily see, even just these few scriptures show us God's Will in this matter. We are not to put ourselves first or even second. We are to put ourselves last. This is how the first Christian's lived their daily lives and why so many were saved at first because they saw how very different they were from the rest of the world. If you read the Gospels and how Jesus trained His disciples, you'll see that He made sure that they had time to rest and eat, but also that if someone was in need or anything- help, healing, hearing God's Truth, or whatever - Jesus had them get up and help that person or persons first and only when they were taken care of did they then get to rest or finish eating etc. All through the Bible we're shown that God wants us to show love to others no matter what they do or say to us. Jesus even tells us that what we do and say to others (or don't do or don't say) is the same as if we were doing and saying it to Him.
What are we to do then? We're to rely on God, not ourselves. We're to be in His Word every day, for it's through His Word that He renews our hearts and minds, sanctifies us, strengthens us and enables us to carry out His Will on a day to day basis. (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 5:26; John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 4:16–18; Ephesians 4:22–24; 2 Peter 1:3)
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