Picture that you have just finished the last thing you
need to do after work. It is a Friday and you are ready to go home to your
family and enjoy the weekend. You grab your coat and pack your bag. You pull
your keys out and start to walk away when suddenly you hear your co-worker. He
asks you to help him finish part of this project.
Now, you had just put in a full day of work. You were diligent and finished all of your tasks. Then this co-worker has the gall to ask you to help him! You have a choice. You could stay and help him or you could make up an excuse and say you had to get home. I just want you to think about what you would do...
Meanwhile let's look at what the Bible says about this. In Matthew 5 Jesus is giving instruction to people. He begins to talk about the idea of "an eye for an eye" in verse 38. He says that if someone strikes your right cheek let him strike the other as well. He goes on to say "If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles" (Mat.5.40). Now, some of you may be saying "what does that mean? How can someone force me to go a mile?" Others may be saying "my coach, or trainer, would make me do that." Still others may be saying "If I had to go a mile, let alone two, I would fall over and God would take me to heaven!"
Let's look at the context of this verse. Back in this time the Roman Empire was in charge. Roman guards had a lot to carry at times. It was legal for a Roman soldier to pull someone at random to help him carry his things. The soldier could only force that person to carry his things for a mile. Thus, Jesus was saying to go another mile with that soldier. Think about that: it is an inconvenience for you, it is a very hard job, and you are pulled away from what you need to do.
Back to my first situation: what would you do? Would you have stayed to help your co-worker? Jesus would say that not only should you stay but you should also help him finish the project! You may be asking "why should I help? What if my co-worker takes all of the credit?" He may do that but we cannot control the actions of others. We can only control our own actions. Who knows? Maybe your helping the co-worker out will lead the co-worker to Christ.
So, when people ask you to help will you help? Will you follow the teachings of Jesus? Will you choose to go the extra mile?
Now, you had just put in a full day of work. You were diligent and finished all of your tasks. Then this co-worker has the gall to ask you to help him! You have a choice. You could stay and help him or you could make up an excuse and say you had to get home. I just want you to think about what you would do...
Meanwhile let's look at what the Bible says about this. In Matthew 5 Jesus is giving instruction to people. He begins to talk about the idea of "an eye for an eye" in verse 38. He says that if someone strikes your right cheek let him strike the other as well. He goes on to say "If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles" (Mat.5.40). Now, some of you may be saying "what does that mean? How can someone force me to go a mile?" Others may be saying "my coach, or trainer, would make me do that." Still others may be saying "If I had to go a mile, let alone two, I would fall over and God would take me to heaven!"
Let's look at the context of this verse. Back in this time the Roman Empire was in charge. Roman guards had a lot to carry at times. It was legal for a Roman soldier to pull someone at random to help him carry his things. The soldier could only force that person to carry his things for a mile. Thus, Jesus was saying to go another mile with that soldier. Think about that: it is an inconvenience for you, it is a very hard job, and you are pulled away from what you need to do.
Back to my first situation: what would you do? Would you have stayed to help your co-worker? Jesus would say that not only should you stay but you should also help him finish the project! You may be asking "why should I help? What if my co-worker takes all of the credit?" He may do that but we cannot control the actions of others. We can only control our own actions. Who knows? Maybe your helping the co-worker out will lead the co-worker to Christ.
So, when people ask you to help will you help? Will you follow the teachings of Jesus? Will you choose to go the extra mile?
Matthew 5:38-42 and Colossians 3:23
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