Galatians 5:13-15
My friends, you were chosen to
be free. So don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want.
Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love. All that the
Law says can be summed up in the command to love others as much as you
love yourself. But if you keep attacking each other like wild animals,
you had better watch out or you will destroy yourselves.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There
is a sweet elderly man named Rayburn who works at our local Walmart.
The other day I heard him tell a young family, “I’m 92 years old!” I
strongly suspect that Rayburn doesn’t have to work any longer.
Judging from his friendly demeanor toward shoppers, I’d say that Rayburn
loves his job – and works because it makes him happy!
A lot of
retirees continue to work at something. Don’t misunderstand…these folks
have plenty of options. They could literally do anything they want with
their time, but many choose to give at least some of it back to
others. They volunteer at thrift stores, animal shelters, schools,
libraries, historical museums, and more. They deliver Meals on Wheels,
work with youth groups, and care for grandchildren and other loved
ones. They serve in every capacity under the sun for their church and
its missions and ministries. And they do it all because they love
others and want to pay forward the blessings they receive in life.
Each
of us has a choice about how we spend our time. Some of it is
mandated…work, school, family obligations. But we have plenty of minutes
in the day that are left to our own discretion. Some of us choose to
spend them acting in love and kindness…demonstrating the teachings of
Jesus to others. Some of us spend them attacking others, criticizing,
finding ways to tear down rather than build up, complaining, sharing
unkind or untrue information with others…and in general, stirring up a
mess of trouble!
Author and activist Eldridge Cleaver is
attributed with the quote, “You either have to be part of the solution,
or you're going to be part of the problem.” This is a fairly good
interpretation of what is stated in Galatians 5:15. We have a choice.
We can spend our time loving others and building them up, or we can act
selfishly and unlovingly toward each other…foster attacks on one another
with our critical and judgmental words and actions…and ultimately
cultivate an environment where hatred – and at least the potential for
eventual destruction – are the end results.
Sadly, some of us are
headed toward the latter scenario with lightning speed! But we can
turn it around. I’m not saying that at 92, we still have to be pushing a
janitorial cart at Walmart and greeting the public – or volunteering
for anything else! But we can look for opportunities every day to share
the love and Good News of Jesus Christ with others. I know some
wonderful seniors who are unable to get out of a chair, but they are
some of the best and most fervent prayer warriors you will ever meet!
We
can strive to be positive…to see the good in others and to promote it -
even at the expense of our own recognition and/or appreciation. It is
past time for us to recognize that life as a Christian is bigger than
any single one of us! We are called to put Jesus – and others – ahead of
ourselves…to love big…and to serve even bigger! It may not always be
fun – or easy – but there truly IS a great freedom in serving in this
manner.
This is not something we can afford to ignore. Are you
ready to “hitch up your britches” and serve Jesus by serving others with
love? Will this be the day that you get started?
©2016 Debbie Robus
No comments:
Post a Comment