Good Morning Friends,
Today’s lectionary looks at a variation on the golden rule and Abraham’s example in its use related to his family. The rule teaches us just how hard it is live into the best of the world to come. And I guess if you had to summarize the whole Jewish law standing on one foot it might suffice. But it is too easy a thing to say and such a difficult thing to do. We get a glimpse of it in the Sermon on the Mount, but we do so bungle human relationships in its application. So, What Rules Guide Your Behavior With Others?
Scripture: Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them living together; for their possessions were so great that they could not live together, and there was strife between the herders of Abram’s livestock and the herders of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land. Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herders and my herders; for we are kindred. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” Lot looked about him, and saw that the plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar; this was before the Lord had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward; thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord. The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Raise your eyes now, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth; so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Rise up, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” So Abram moved his tent, and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron; and there he built an altar to the Lord.
Genesis 13:2, 5-18 (NRSV)
Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:6, 12-14 (NRSV)
He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 22:37-39 (NRSV)
Message: You have heard it said that whatever you want people to do to you, do also to them. This has been called the Golden Rule. But what we have in today’s scripture is this basic principle given in purely negative terms. This is sometimes called the silver rule and it can be found in the writings of cultures and religions around the world. The principle is an important part of right human relations, but it falls short of God’s perfect standard. The goals of Christians might be reduced to loving the whole world, but my experience is that everyone permits themselves animosities within their immediate world and believe me sometimes it is justified. Friends, we are not to throw our pearls before swine. The way is narrow. Loving the whole world can only be done by loving person by person, one by one in a world that is not so distant. It is foolish to say we love humanity when the evidence suggest that it is the very same people that inhabit it that we cannot stand. Sometimes we do not even love ourselves and by this I do not mean a self-centered and self-absorbed love that is a godless kind of gratification so much as a love about self-preservation. Our desire to be treated humanely is the essence of the standard I think scripture is promoting. We are supposed to want to live simply so others might simply live. Still some people are so lacking in love that they cannot even do that. We need God’s help. So, this morning we ask God to help us demonstrate the kind of love that changes the world. We ask God to help us repent of anything contrary to God’s standard. We ask God to guide our behavior. We live in a time when people tend to choose their own version of reality. Too few follow the Golden Rule. Too many fail to guard what is holy. Too few take their concerns to God. Too few see the pricelessness of Christ. Part of the problem is that society’s methods of dealing with fear are not the ways of God. Discipline is required for those that would enter the Kingdom of God.
And So, the way of faith is narrow. Here religious acts here are not done for self-aggrandizement but to glorify God. So too, some religious teachings are to be shared in the presence of those who are ready to appreciate them. Friends, it is great to be inclusive but the path to deliverance is narrow. Unfortunately, we are told by society that the road is so wide that there may be many independent tracks in it, and the sinner may find his way along it without ever upsetting the satisfaction of the religious frauds who starve the souls of sinners. The moralist may pick a clean path all the way, while the immoral rascals may wade up to their knees in mire and others do not think it odd. It is a broad road filled with what the world calls “Good People” and not just out right evil doers. The road is wide and will accommodate a wide assortment of people. This easy path does not require any effort to travel. So, on the journey sinners might agree that they are opposed to God, but they do not seek a better solution. This path is the way of the world. Included are many who said one day they will commit to Christ, but they never do. Yes, the way to Hell is paved with Good intentions. Many self-professing Christians are traveling the broad way and think they belong to Jesus, yet they missed the narrow road of true salvation. We cannot find the way on our own. We have no ability in and of ourselves to find God. The door…the gate must come to us. Thankfully, God comes looking for us to show us what we must do if we but come to God with our problems. God includes us if we seek to include God. Friends, the yoke is easy, but the way is hard.
Pray we stand on the firm foundation of Christ. Pray we realize that if the direction our life is achieved with little thought or intention, then we may be on the wrong road. Pray we realize that if there is no challenge then we are probably on the wrong road. Pray we realize that if we are doing what everyone else is doing and we are heading in the same direction, then we are probably on the wrong road. Pray we overcome our fears. Pray we face the challenge of change. Pray we realize that the devil is a liar. Pray we take the road less travelled. Pray God is with us on the journey. Pray we have the very presence of Christ within us. Pray we realize that the narrow way may have pitfalls. Pray we become more like Jesus each day and realize that we can make it with God’s help. Pray we become holy in service on the journey to deliverance. Pray we embody the rule of Christ’s love in us so we might reflect the best of life. Pray we care for others as we would like others to care for us realizing that we cannot succeed on our own but need God’s strength received through acts of our faith and God’s grace. Pray we help others on their projects and speak kindly and forgive. Pray we are concerned about others and others are concerned about us. Pray we embrace the narrow way of love that keeps moving forward in the strength of our Lord with a balance that keeps our spirit inflated enough to resist our natural inclination to sin and but not so much that our pride takes our focus off the promises of God. Pray we realize that the grace of God is for everyone who will receive it and that our actions should reflect that reality in our relationship with Jesus and others. Pray we realize that our neighbors are not perfect but that we are to love them anyway. Pray we do unto others as we would have them do to us as well as not do unto others as we would hope they would not do unto us. Pray we rightly discern the will of God and act in both wisdom and faith. Pray we advocate for generosity more than reciprocity alone.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 