Word@Work Luke91 - Luke 6:32-35
Published: Wed, 04/28/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
THE GODLESS LOGIC OF SELF-INTEREST
Luke 6:32-35 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners', expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. (NIV)
The 'if' statements of the Bible are designed to make us think about the logic we use to justify our lifestyle. Jesus provoked His new disciples into thinking about why they were kind to people, by suggesting that they had the morality of prostitutes ('sinners'). Such people were known to give people what they paid for, love those who loved them, show kindness to kind people and lend as long as they would be repaid.
So Jesus set the standard for a new lifestyle: love your enemies, show kindness and lend money to those who cannot repay. Why? Because, in God's economy, grace is the ruling principle. That is just as well, because none of us could ever deserve all that we receive directly, and indirectly, from God. His kindness is available to the undeserving, and His generosity is way beyond our ability to repay. Although the Old Testament spoke about God's grace, it was not until Jesus, that anybody could see what it looked like in practice.
The disciples were to learn that they had to receive grace from God; they could not earn it. And, as they received, they now knew that they had to dispense the same undeserved-love to others. Jesus said that they would be repaid, but not in this life - although the first instalment is the knowledge that we have been appointed as God's sons, because He is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. We know that is true, because Jesus has been very kind to us, hasn't He? If that is so, should we not also behave in the same way - if we really are sons of the Most High? The workplace may provide excellent opportunities to practise this principle; or indeed, anywhere that the ungrateful and wicked may be found. To live like that requires an active choice: that is why Jesus gave us a command to action. All He is seeking is our obedience today.
Prayer: Gracious God. How much You have done for me, especially when I was ungrateful and wicked in my heart. Thank You for that grace, demonstrated on the cross, which enables me to benefit from Your love. Forgive me when I have limited my love to those who can repay me, and when I have forgotten how much wicked and ungrateful people need to experience Your kindness through me. Please help me to abandon the logic of self-interest and to embrace Your command to give without expecting any return, other than knowing that I am doing Your will. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
The 'if' statements of the Bible are designed to make us think about the logic we use to justify our lifestyle. Jesus provoked His new disciples into thinking about why they were kind to people, by suggesting that they had the morality of prostitutes ('sinners'). Such people were known to give people what they paid for, love those who loved them, show kindness to kind people and lend as long as they would be repaid.
So Jesus set the standard for a new lifestyle: love your enemies, show kindness and lend money to those who cannot repay. Why? Because, in God's economy, grace is the ruling principle. That is just as well, because none of us could ever deserve all that we receive directly, and indirectly, from God. His kindness is available to the undeserving, and His generosity is way beyond our ability to repay. Although the Old Testament spoke about God's grace, it was not until Jesus, that anybody could see what it looked like in practice.
The disciples were to learn that they had to receive grace from God; they could not earn it. And, as they received, they now knew that they had to dispense the same undeserved-love to others. Jesus said that they would be repaid, but not in this life - although the first instalment is the knowledge that we have been appointed as God's sons, because He is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. We know that is true, because Jesus has been very kind to us, hasn't He? If that is so, should we not also behave in the same way - if we really are sons of the Most High? The workplace may provide excellent opportunities to practise this principle; or indeed, anywhere that the ungrateful and wicked may be found. To live like that requires an active choice: that is why Jesus gave us a command to action. All He is seeking is our obedience today.
Prayer: Gracious God. How much You have done for me, especially when I was ungrateful and wicked in my heart. Thank You for that grace, demonstrated on the cross, which enables me to benefit from Your love. Forgive me when I have limited my love to those who can repay me, and when I have forgotten how much wicked and ungrateful people need to experience Your kindness through me. Please help me to abandon the logic of self-interest and to embrace Your command to give without expecting any return, other than knowing that I am doing Your will. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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