A few years ago a teacher at my school lost
his position. He had not done anything wrong, it was just that in order
to balance the budget, the school board decided to cut several teachers.
Unfortunately for the affected teachers, it looked like they had done
wrong, and the teacher in my school who was cut actually had no idea why
he was being terminated.
If you were a teacher at that school and one
of your co-teachers lost his position, how would you react?
Unfortunately the primary reaction at my
school was, "I'm glad it wasn't me!" Very few showed this particular
teacher support or encouragement.
This is how our world is. It's a "Me-first"
mentality.
It is sad to say that we also see this in the
church. There are those who call themselves Christian because they go to
church, but they don't care for others the way Jesus would.
Why not our genuine love instead?
Why? In the words of Jesus, "Because a
loveless world...is a
sightless world.” (John 14:23 MSG)
By contrast, Jesus did not put Himself first.
He didn't call down from the cross and say, "I'll pay someone to take my
place!" And it's a good thing too, because if He had, no one would be
saved! But Jesus isn't like that. He died so that everyone could be
saved! That is love!
Love is the answer to the "Me-first" mentality
of the world, and this is why we are commanded to love one another:
"This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the
very best way to love." (John15:11-12, MSG)
Jesus takes this a step farther: "Put your
life on the line for your friends when you do the things I command you.”
(John 15:14-15 MSG)
We have been talking about God's Armament. One
of the best pieces of armour He gives us is love. He models it, He
lavishes it upon us, and He calls us to love one another. This love is
the weapon we have at our disposal against the "Me-First" attitude of
the world.
We invite you to join us on Monday for a sad
story that God has instructed me to tell, in God's Armament, Part 9.
Rob Chaffart