Who and where are “they”?

The world constantly wants to dictate to us on how we should handle situations or how we should react under certain circumstance.

You have heard they expression: “they say….” We should do this or that, etc. I often wonder, where can I meet them. Those that are always referred to as, “they”. You know those guys who always know everything.

Jesus took it a step further. He said:

Mat 5:38 You have knowledge that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say to you, Do not make use of force against an evil man; but to him who gives you a blow on the right side of your face let the left be turned. 40 And if any man goes to law with you and takes away your coat, do not keep back your robe from him. 41 And whoever makes you go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who comes with a request, and keep not your property from him who would for a time make use of it. 43 You have knowledge that it was said, Have love for your neighbor, and hate for him who is against you: 44 But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you; 45 So that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven; for his sun gives light to the evil and to the good, and he sends rain on the upright man and on the sinner.

Jesus turns the whole concept of how we ought to conduct our lives, according to the world’s system, on its head.

1. “Do not make use of force against an evil man; but to him who gives you a blow on the right side of your face let the left be turned.” Wow, this one flies right into the face of everything we have been taught as little boys ( or girls ). Get your own back. Get even. According to Jesus, we are not even supposed to “get even” we are supposed to “do right”.

2. “And whoever makes you go one mile, go with him two.” Whoo boy! The boss requires you to get a job done before you go home. Fly off the handle. Throw a tantrum. Jesus says “No” You do what is expected and even more. You don’t just finish the job, you do it with excellence. You make sure that all the loose ends have been taken care of.

3. “Give to him who comes with a request, and keep not your property from him who would for a time make use of it.” The neighbor knocks on the door, wanting to borrow the lawnmower “again” and last time he returned it all busted up and dirty. Jesus says: “Let him use it, after all, you are supposed to be an example of grace and mercy.”

4. “Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you;” The boss that ignored you when it was time for promotion or the shop assistant who treated you as just another client, instead of treating you as “royalty”. Jesus would say: “love covers a multitude of sin”

What is the use of displaying bumper stickers, proclaiming and announcing your “Christianity” if your actions won’t line up. Why bother putting on the lapel pin or the wristband or the beautiful gold cross on the necklace, if none of those serve as confirmation of your beliefs.

Our actions should speak louder than anything else: “So that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven; for his sun gives light to the evil and to the good, and he sends rain on the upright man and on the sinner.”