Living sacrifices
This week's study is on Romans 12:13-16:
Earlier in chapter 12 of Romans, Paul talks about being living sacrifices for God. Then he transitions to a bunch of examples on how we can be selfless in serving others. We are all part of something bigger, from families to communities to the global church. In these verses, Paul talks about loving self-sacrificially.
The things Paul talks about are difficult when you really think about them. It's sort of like the difference between a hobby and a business, in a way. You may love the idea of baking cakes, but that in no way prepares you for managing a budget, keeping regular hours, dealing with customers, complying with regulations, and doing mostly the same thing day in and day out. A lot of businesses fail because their founders haven't counted the cost before jumping into it.
Love is the same way. On the surface we love to talk about self sacrifice, and loving other people, but it's superficial. But what Paul describes is the gritty reality of self-sacrificing love. We fail at loving one another because we don't make a practice of it like Paul describes.
"Share with the Lord's people who are in need." Sounds easy right? Just cut a check to a charity once a year and you're done. Except that's not what Paul is saying. What he's saying is if a family in your church needs money to get their car fixed, and you have money in the bank, you're on duty. You share. Now it's not so easy, is it?
"Practice hospitality." That one sounds pretty easy on the surface too, right? Just say hi to new people in church and you've ticked that box for the week. Except that's not what Paul is saying exactly, either. Someone needs a place to stay while looking for an apartment and you have a spare bed or couch. Guess what? You're on duty! You invite them into your home, share your food, electricity, and internet, pick up their messes, and make them feel welcome. That sounds hard! Maybe that's why we have to practice it.
"Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse." We sort of wriggle our way out of this one by just reading the first part "Bless those who persecute you" and decide that none of the people who are making our lives difficult are persecuting us. But it's a two part calling. If someone is giving us a hard time, we're supposed to bless them. So you're probably thinking "Fine, I'll say nice things to them when they're around, and then when I get the chance I'll throw them under the bus." But love is blessing and not cursing. That means you just bless the difficult people, and don't mutter stuff under your breath or plan to get them later. Now it's a lot more difficult!
"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn." On the surface that seems easy too, right? Buy a stack of greeting cards and you're pretty much there. Except this one goes deeper too. What if you're grumpy and out of work and your friend invites you to celebrate his birthday with him, but you'd rather stay in and watch netflix with a tub of ice cream? You can't because you're on duty! Your friend needs you to be part of his tribe and to share his joy with him!
Or how about this? You've got plans to see a movie and suddenly your friend calls up to tell you his girlfriend dumped him for some loser. Now you're not seeing that movie anymore because you're on duty. Your friend needs you to share his burden of grief for a little while. Who wants to give up fun plans to be around mopey people? That's hard too!
"Live in harmony with one another." That one sounds easy for everyone else to do. But you're on duty too! If your neighbour is playing loud music all the time, that's not a license for you to create drama in the neighbourhood over it. Maybe you have to befriend the neighbour or buy earplugs in order to live harmoniously. But that's not nearly as easy as posting on facebook and calling the cops, is it?
"Do not be proud, but associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." That one could be easy. Just greet the checkout lady in the supermarket and you're done, right? Nope. You have to be open to everyone, even someone who has nothing to offer you in exchange for your company. It's about not "purposing your relationships."
In other words, if someone who has nothing to offer you wants to hang out, and you can make time for them, you're on duty. You don't give priority to people based on their position or the sort of company you feel you deserve or should be seen among. If you're the CEO, and the guy from the mailroom wants to sit at your table at lunch and talk about football, you practice that hospitality. "You mean I have to miss out on valuable networking opportunities and deal with annoying people?" Love is hard.
Sacrifice is hard. It means giving up something of yourself, whether it's time, or the feeling of being right, or money, or opportunities to be doing something that is more fun or career-advancing. It means putting your ego and comfort aside in the face of annoying, toxic people. Self-sacrificing love values others and is willing to pay the price for them to have a better life. It is Christlike.
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Earlier in chapter 12 of Romans, Paul talks about being living sacrifices for God. Then he transitions to a bunch of examples on how we can be selfless in serving others. We are all part of something bigger, from families to communities to the global church. In these verses, Paul talks about loving self-sacrificially.
The things Paul talks about are difficult when you really think about them. It's sort of like the difference between a hobby and a business, in a way. You may love the idea of baking cakes, but that in no way prepares you for managing a budget, keeping regular hours, dealing with customers, complying with regulations, and doing mostly the same thing day in and day out. A lot of businesses fail because their founders haven't counted the cost before jumping into it.
Love is the same way. On the surface we love to talk about self sacrifice, and loving other people, but it's superficial. But what Paul describes is the gritty reality of self-sacrificing love. We fail at loving one another because we don't make a practice of it like Paul describes.
"Share with the Lord's people who are in need." Sounds easy right? Just cut a check to a charity once a year and you're done. Except that's not what Paul is saying. What he's saying is if a family in your church needs money to get their car fixed, and you have money in the bank, you're on duty. You share. Now it's not so easy, is it?
"Practice hospitality." That one sounds pretty easy on the surface too, right? Just say hi to new people in church and you've ticked that box for the week. Except that's not what Paul is saying exactly, either. Someone needs a place to stay while looking for an apartment and you have a spare bed or couch. Guess what? You're on duty! You invite them into your home, share your food, electricity, and internet, pick up their messes, and make them feel welcome. That sounds hard! Maybe that's why we have to practice it.
"Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse." We sort of wriggle our way out of this one by just reading the first part "Bless those who persecute you" and decide that none of the people who are making our lives difficult are persecuting us. But it's a two part calling. If someone is giving us a hard time, we're supposed to bless them. So you're probably thinking "Fine, I'll say nice things to them when they're around, and then when I get the chance I'll throw them under the bus." But love is blessing and not cursing. That means you just bless the difficult people, and don't mutter stuff under your breath or plan to get them later. Now it's a lot more difficult!
"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn." On the surface that seems easy too, right? Buy a stack of greeting cards and you're pretty much there. Except this one goes deeper too. What if you're grumpy and out of work and your friend invites you to celebrate his birthday with him, but you'd rather stay in and watch netflix with a tub of ice cream? You can't because you're on duty! Your friend needs you to be part of his tribe and to share his joy with him!
Or how about this? You've got plans to see a movie and suddenly your friend calls up to tell you his girlfriend dumped him for some loser. Now you're not seeing that movie anymore because you're on duty. Your friend needs you to share his burden of grief for a little while. Who wants to give up fun plans to be around mopey people? That's hard too!
"Live in harmony with one another." That one sounds easy for everyone else to do. But you're on duty too! If your neighbour is playing loud music all the time, that's not a license for you to create drama in the neighbourhood over it. Maybe you have to befriend the neighbour or buy earplugs in order to live harmoniously. But that's not nearly as easy as posting on facebook and calling the cops, is it?
"Do not be proud, but associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." That one could be easy. Just greet the checkout lady in the supermarket and you're done, right? Nope. You have to be open to everyone, even someone who has nothing to offer you in exchange for your company. It's about not "purposing your relationships."
In other words, if someone who has nothing to offer you wants to hang out, and you can make time for them, you're on duty. You don't give priority to people based on their position or the sort of company you feel you deserve or should be seen among. If you're the CEO, and the guy from the mailroom wants to sit at your table at lunch and talk about football, you practice that hospitality. "You mean I have to miss out on valuable networking opportunities and deal with annoying people?" Love is hard.
Sacrifice is hard. It means giving up something of yourself, whether it's time, or the feeling of being right, or money, or opportunities to be doing something that is more fun or career-advancing. It means putting your ego and comfort aside in the face of annoying, toxic people. Self-sacrificing love values others and is willing to pay the price for them to have a better life. It is Christlike.
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