SOTM 7: Total Loser
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Mt. 5:7
Maybe you're like me and helping others doesn't always come naturally. And from time to time you find yourself in that awkward situation of realizing that you just can't justify not helping out. Maybe a friend just bought a new sofa and they've asked you to come over and help move it in. You wish you'd already made other plans, but you haven't. And you're totally busted because the previous week you had 500 people spend the day helping you move into your new house. If you don't help out, face the facts. You're a total loser. That's the basic gist of the parable of the unmerciful servant. When you've been shown mercy--when you've been in great need and received help and you don't respond in kind to others--you're a total loser. Of course Jesus' scope is much bigger. He's not just getting at who the cool and lame friends are. He's addressing the question of who really knows where they stand with God--who has the keys to the Kingdom. The bottom line is that God is a merciful and forgiving God. What he's telling us is that that day when you had 500 people over to help you move in, that is every day. That day when you were shown mercy, that's every day. Every single moment of our existence is a merciful gift from God. And every time we don't show others mercy it is an indication that we've forgotten what God has done and continues to do for us. The unmerciful servant loses his opportunity for mercy because in forgetting his need for it he has refused it.
for they will be shown mercy.
Mt. 5:7
Maybe you're like me and helping others doesn't always come naturally. And from time to time you find yourself in that awkward situation of realizing that you just can't justify not helping out. Maybe a friend just bought a new sofa and they've asked you to come over and help move it in. You wish you'd already made other plans, but you haven't. And you're totally busted because the previous week you had 500 people spend the day helping you move into your new house. If you don't help out, face the facts. You're a total loser. That's the basic gist of the parable of the unmerciful servant. When you've been shown mercy--when you've been in great need and received help and you don't respond in kind to others--you're a total loser. Of course Jesus' scope is much bigger. He's not just getting at who the cool and lame friends are. He's addressing the question of who really knows where they stand with God--who has the keys to the Kingdom. The bottom line is that God is a merciful and forgiving God. What he's telling us is that that day when you had 500 people over to help you move in, that is every day. That day when you were shown mercy, that's every day. Every single moment of our existence is a merciful gift from God. And every time we don't show others mercy it is an indication that we've forgotten what God has done and continues to do for us. The unmerciful servant loses his opportunity for mercy because in forgetting his need for it he has refused it.
posted by Kevin Hanly at
7:12 AM
1 Comments:
I like helping people too but It does not come naturally. I must make a conscience effort to make it happen. By the worlds standards, I suppose I am a loser... puny job, don't make tons of money, not many friends... not very popular with the ladies (or anyone for that matter)... but I like to think that God has more in store for me to come.. :)
By
debtfreedude, At
March 24, 2009 at 5:37 PM
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