Matthew 7:7-12
“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
This is the day that children across America look forward to all year…for several reasons. Chief among them? Candy! The kids (and some grown-ups!) dress up in cute and/or scary costumes, knock on doors and say, “Trick-or-treat!”… and expect to receive candy to put in their sack, bag, plastic pumpkin – or even a pillowcase! According to news reports, a woman in West Fargo, North Dakota, has decided to substitute “fat letters” for candy as her “treat” to those children she decides are “obese”. The letter will tell their parents that this child should not be consuming sugar… and encourage them to ration the child’s candy consumption.
While I am all for combatting childhood obesity… can you imagine the heartbreak of a child who rings the doorbell on Halloween - expecting a sweet treat - when he/she receives this letter? Who would do such a thing to a child? There is a time and place for everything… and this is neither the time – nor the place! This woman is playing a game - and using unsuspecting children as the pawns. This is exactly the point that Jesus is making in the book of Matthew… that most parents would never do this - and God most certainly would not!
Yes, God is our Heavenly Father. Yes, He has standards… and expectations… for each of us. But God would never play games with us. He would never disrespect us or make promises He can’t – or won’t – keep. God doesn’t lie, cheat or steal. He doesn’t ignore us because He isn’t in the mood to talk to us (as we often do with friends and family members). He would never try to con us or manipulate us. God would never disrespect our relationship… He would never talk about us to others behind our backs, call us names, or speak hatefully or unkindly toward us. God would never slam a door in our face… or lead us to expect one thing – and give us something else.
God offers us the perfect model for how to treat others in His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was never unkind or disrespectful toward anyone… not even His enemies. And none of us wants to be mistreated or disrespected. So why would we think it was okay to act this way toward anyone else? This passage reminds us to think about how we want others to treat us… and beat them to the punch!
We are called to treat others in the same way that we wish to be treated – or better! When trick-or-treaters ring your doorbell tonight, give them your best candy and treats. And make a vow to give others your best each and every day. Let the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus be your daily “costume” as you strive to emulate Him in your interactions with others. Savor the goodness of living in a way that pleases Him… as a child savors the best piece of chocolate in his/her bag. Operate in the confidence that you have “represented” well.
Whether it’s Halloween or any other day of the year, operate in the “treats” of God… and leave the tricks and disrespect to the devil.
©2013 Debbie Robus
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