They Do Not Deserve It
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Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: Hands-on Faith
They Do Not Deserve It
by Barry Newton
I suspect at one time or another we have all been
tempted to think: "they do not deserve my time,"
"she does not deserve my forgiveness," "he does
not deserve the effort," or "they do not deserve
another chance." Perhaps some people are
undeserving, if we judge their worthiness based
upon how they treat us. If how we act toward
others is determined by how we judge their
worthiness, it can be hard to forgive or to love.
Such an approach to life contributes to a recipe
for disaster, since a variety of studies reveal
people tend to view themselves in a more positive
light than others see them./1 What might we expect
from this? It suggests that not only will people
see themselves as performing more good than others
will give them credit for doing, but there may be
a tendency for people to view themselves as giving
more toward a relationship or a group than what
they understand they are receiving.
For someone to measure out how much forgiveness or
love will be expressed toward others, based upon
what that individual perceives himself or herself
to be receiving, it can easily lead to an "it's-
all-about-me" approach of living, which tends to
focus upon a circle of activities and friends that
can often grow smaller. After all, from this
perspective why do it if it is not paying off?
Accordingly, one possible result can be a
fundamental dissatisfaction and resentment with
others, which can contribute toward one's own
bitterness and either an ever narrowing of service
or an abandonment of the relationship.
When Jesus said, "even the pagans greet those who
greet them," he acknowledged just how common it is
for people to gauge their response upon their
perceptions of how others are treating them. Are
we not extremely fortunate that God has not
treated us in this way? While we were still
reeking from the stench of truly being
undeserving, God loved us by sending His Son to
endure the nails pushing through his flesh, and to
be lifted up on the cross in humiliation, and
under a curse to become our guilt offering. As
sinners, we did not deserve this much love ... we
did not deserve any of God's love, but He loved us
anyway.
To those who desire to follow Jesus, the Lord in
essence taught, I want you to do something greater
toward others than the common "if you will
contribute your 50% (or 100%) toward this
relationship, I'll give my 50% (or 100%)." God
calls His people to love others, not based upon
how others treat them, but based upon His model of
loving the undeserving. For those who become His,
God forges a new identity and purpose which is to
be shaped by this type of love./2 God's people are
not to limit their acts of loving service to those
who deserve it.
Praise God that He responded to our needs based
upon His love and mercy and not upon whether we
deserved it! May we continue to learn to give, to
sacrifice our time and resources, to forgive and
to show love to others in the same manner as how
He first loved us.
1 "The Enchanted Glass," Scientific American May
2004
2 Matthew 5:43-48; 1 John 3:16; 4:8-12; Ephesians
2:10; Titus 3:8
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