Making a List; Checking it Twice Pt. 2

Yesterday we were introduced to a gentlemen by the name of Simon, who, like many people decided he wanted to make some impactful changes in his life as opposed to making New Year’s resolutions.  The upside is that he is great at setting goals but he sucks at implementation primarily because he does not write his goals down, create a time line or carry them out.  He has “legitimate” excuses, but excuses only satisfy those who make them.      

We also discovered that he is pretty much obsessed with saving things he considers important such as receipts, lists, etc.   Two of the lists he keeps strike me as odd: 1) a help list which contains the names, dates and type of help he gives to others each year; and 2) an offense list which tracks the offenses be believes have been levied against him so that he can pay the offenders back accordingly and in most cases with interest.  I said it yesterday and I will say it again today, I have major challenges with Simon's help and offense lists.  The reason?  Because he says he has the gift of helping others.  

If he has the gift of Helps it should translate into a passion for genuinely helping, which translates into willingness, which translates into joy which translates into strength and ideas on how to give so much so often that he forgets who he helps because it’s not about him (or his list).  This dude seems to have the spirit of loaning things to others and keeping a detailed list as opposed to freely giving of himself or the resources he has been blessed with.   I found a passage from my favorite book which contradicts Simon’s actions:  Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.  1 Peter 4:11 (NLT)

Tania Not Tanya nugget:  Simon apparently ripped that page out of his instructional manual as well as these:

If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister[a] in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?  1 John 3:17 (NLT);

And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”  Acts 20:35 (NLT).  

My understanding of the gift of helping others is that you give to others without an expectation tied to your giving which can be: financial, spiritual, emotional, but it is generally something tangible.  If I give you something it means that I do so voluntarily without expecting any compensation.  If I loan you something I have an expectation that you will repay me, not necessarily dollar for dollar and/or there may or may not be a timeline associated with the loan, but there is absolutely an expectation of repayment.  While Simon may or may not expect a monetary return for the help he gives he may expect some other type of return (e.g. a hookup for something – favor, etc.).  His giving has addendums attached to it and he gives with ulterior motives.  It’s not sincere, well I take that back, it is sincere, it’s just sincerely wrong.  Why else would he keep track of the help he gives?  Secondly, who keeps a list of offenses?  People who are vindictive.  How can Simon justify vindictive behavior?  

Simon clearly missed some very important lessons.  One in particular that stands out was the one that Jesus taught about forgiveness and offenses.  Check this out:

Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22 (NLT)   

Tania Not Tanya nugget:  In the verses above Peter, one of Jesus’ ride or dies, hoped to sound extremely generous and loving by suggesting forgiving an offender up to seven times.  What was so significant about seven?  During their lifetime the Jewish Rabbis taught that you were doing well if you forgave a person up to  three times, so when Peter suggested forgiving up to seven times he thought he was going above and beyond, however, Jesus went hard in the paint when he said, “Naw, Bruh, 70 times 7 which equals 490 times.  Can you imagine the dumb dear in the headlights look Peter gave Jesus?  How about a huge blank stare!!!!  Basically Jesus was saying we are to forgive our offenders an unlimited number of times, besides, who would keep count except Simon, I’m just sayin ….

Let’s keep it one hunid.  In and of ourselves we are not able to forgive people repeatedly.  It is nothing but the love of God, obedience, humility, fasting, praying and keeping our nose in the word that we are able to look beyond an offender’s actions and love him/her.  I’m not telling you something I think, I’m telling you something that I have lived through personally and I’m talking recent intentional love to people that were not always lovable.

The human side of you wants to “handle yah business”; let people know that you ain’t no punk and that you’re not gonna take this, that and the third.  But what would that prove?  That you’re just another double agent, fake Christian living one way while you’re around the church folk and the opposite when you’re with your peoples, only to confirm that you can’t skate on top of a hill because you can’t see in the dark since your light is out.  Not only will you destroy your witness if you “go there” but you will taint the witness of other Believers who had no part to play in your drama or unseemly behavior.  Christianity is not something that we change like an outfit, it is supposed to be like a tattoo, a permanent fixture that can’t be erased, it should be proudly displayed for all to see.  We are to wear our beliefs loud and proud.  Oh, wait a minute, I went off on a tantrum, I forgot all about Simon.

Let me close on this as I did yesterday:  Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged … 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NLT).  If love doesn’t keep records of being wrong, then it must be hate – the exact opposite of love.

When you have the genuine love of God down in your heart it will allow you to say “no” to your desires to get even and turn your hurt, bruised, tattered, shattered heart to God so that he can lovingly mend it back together again.  I’ll leave you with this last passage: The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:7-8 (NLT)

I’m out of time for now.

Because of His Favor

Tania Not Tanya