LIVING DIFFERENTLY
Luke 6:31-36 NKJV
31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. 32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, [a]hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Occasionally, when I am reading, I come upon a chapter where I struggle to find devotional material. Luke chapter six is not one of those chapters. This chapter is a more concise version of what is referred to as the Sermon on The Mount, which includes the Beatitudes. Matthew spends three full chapters on the sermon, while Luke gives us the highlights.
Our verses for today are a continuation of Jesus outlining how His followers are to be different from the world around them. A key difference is seen in how Jesus’ disciples treat people. The overall theme is one of our actions toward people as opposed to reacting to them.
Treat people the way you want to be treated. This is often referred to as the golden rule although I have not heard that term in quite some time. This is action towards people, not a reaction. And what is often misunderstood is that there is no promise that in treating people this way they will reciprocate. So, in essence, we are acting independently of the behavior of others. Jesus is instructing us to act, not respond to people.
And He continues that thought with saying that people without God, sinners love those who love them. Even the godless know how to respond to people who love them. The same applies to doing good. Even those people who don’t have a relationship with God respond to good with good. No difference there. The same thing with lending to others. There is not as much risk in lending to those who can repay us.
Then Jesus wraps up this different thinking in verses 35-36. Love your enemies. That is different. Do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return. This is also different because this is living as a giver, as someone who initiates not someone constantly responding to others.
And then Jesus lets us know there are benefits to living differently. Our reward will be great. This reward will be coming from God not people. And we show ourselves to be sons and daughters of the Most High. Because He is different. He is kind to the unthankful and the evil. God does not react to people; He responds to people out of His nature, not their behavior. And as His children, we are to be merciful as He is merciful. In a push-and-shove world, this is different. In a world where people respond to one another hatefully, this is different. But for our own peace of mind and heart, learning to live differently is learning to live spiritually, and that’s where we find life and peace.
PRAYER
Lord, help me learn to live differently in this life. That I may reflect You well and know You better.