You First, And Have a Drink of Water
.
Romans 15:1-2
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him.
Hebrews 13:1-3
Continue to love each other with true Christian love. Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Don't forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies.
Galatians 5:13-14
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Now just about everyone has heard the "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" quote from Jesus himself. The passages from Romans and Hebrews expand upon or give examples of how that love might manifest itself. The scripture tells us that we are to do more than just think of others lovingly. We are to walk along side them. We are to experience their sadness, pain, hopelessness, as well as their joy and peace as if we were one with them. I don’t know about you, but that’s a pretty tall order in my book!
At a conference I attended a few weeks ago, one of the speakers discussed the topic of love – this agape love that is described in the scripture here. He said that true love meant putting the other first. Not equal with you – first. Even if it means you go without – without food, without a warm winter coat, without life itself. That is true Christ-like love. He gave us several “assignments” for when we went back into the world, and one of them was to look each person we encounter – strangers or friends – in the eye and silently say to them, “You first. And have a drink of water.” We become the least so that the other can be built up. We go thirsty so the other can be quenched. We offer our love, then we give ourselves.
This “giving away” our need to be first, is so empowering! Doesn’t that seem like an oxymoron? Relinquishing our strength allows God’s strength to enter in. That’s how we endure hardship so others may be at ease. Freely offering our love allows the love of God to enter us and become even greater love—to give away even more love. Offering the best and giving away even the last of everything we have and everything we are affords us the honor of growing more like Christ. And the closer we grow to Him, the more we want to draw others to Him.
Of course, all of this is counter to what the world tells us. And it is a challenge to live this way in a world that views this kind of thinking and living as a weakness. But Satan had that same error in judgment of Jesus in the desert, didn’t he?
My prayer today is that you will give away little bits and pieces of yourself to those who really need it. And that you will live out the greatest commandment in all you do.
Mary
