Matthew 5: 38-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
These words have really spoken to me lately. This has been hard stuff for me to swallow. I mean, in America, it seems that we are all about our rights. Stand up for our rights! This does not seem to be what Jesus is teaching. And he also does not appear to be speaking figuratively, either. Couldn't any Roman soldier "force" a person to carry their gear for them for a mile? Wasn't that the law? Did Jesus say, "Everyone needs to sign a petition to change that law- that is just not right!" No, he didn't. He said, "Walk with him two miles!" Doesn't Jesus know how hot it is and how tired I am??
Could it be that Jesus is more concerned with the eternal than the earthly? Could it be that what man considers being taken advantage of is what Jesus sees as an opportunity to serve?
But what if this happens or what if that happens? If I do this, won't everyone take advantage of me? Won't I end up with nothing? Won't I be serving everyone around me. Hmmmm. Yes, I guess so. My job is not to ensure the outcome. My job is to obey my master- Jesus. Hasn't he promised to take care of me? Yeah, maybe not in the way in which I have grown accustomed, though. Am I ready for that?
When Jesus walked this earth, did he make a nice, comfortable life for himself? Or did he pour himself out for us, loving and serving those around him. He walked this earth as a journey toward eternity. I am not meant to settle down here. I'm meant to follow him.
But, do I trust him enough to do as he asks? Do I trust him enough to let my neighbor park on my side of the street or use part of my yard for their belongings? Do I trust him enough to not react with indignation when a sales person is rude to me or even- aghast- tries to cheat me? I am stepping on my own toes- ouch!
Many times, including in this passage, Jesus tells me that I am not to treat others based on the way they treat me. He tells me that I am to act toward others based on whom I serve- Jesus. It doesn't matter how I am treated. It matters how I treat others. Wow. And again, ouch.
If my boss asks me to work an hour late, do I stay two hours late? If my neighbor wants to borrow my lawnmower, do I happily loan him my edger also? What if my neighbor's tree leans over into my yard? What if their dog digs up my flowers? What if the guy on the highway cuts me off? What if that lady at the store is rude to me? Could it be that I am to react with kindness? Does that make sense? No, it doesn't- at least not on earth. God doesn't call us to make sense to the world, though.
So am I called to be a doormat? Hmmmmm. You know, perhaps I am. I am called to obey and the outcome is left up to God. Jesus said that even tax collectors love those who are nice to them. Again, we are called to do more- to be more. We are called to love those who are mean to us. We are called to show kindness to those who would take advantage of us.
But, wait, if I willingly serve someone, then they are not taking advantage of me, then, are they?
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