Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. (Romans 12:9-18, NLT)
How many times have you found yourself scrimping - holding back? How many times have you questioned giving to someone else - your money, your time, your heart, and your grace?
I grew up in the IT field, working on desktop computers and hardware repairs in the USMC in 1997. Most get there start in a a tier 1 environment like bench repair or helpdesk. One of the nice things about starting with the Marine Corps was that I also got to work directly with end-users on problems in their environment. So it offered a variety for me.
IT folks often get labeled as being very rigid, because they tend to gravitate towards binary answers: It either is or it isn't, black or white, on or off. The label is often true - but not just for IT-types.
Because of the "technician mindset", many people like to work with things. They are uncomplicated, and if you do "A", then the result is always "B". It simplifies your decision-tree to think in binary, and it doesn't take into account human nature.
When someone would ask me for something I often find myself citing this regulation or that - finding a way to distance myself from the emotional decision. But I began to focus more on people and how I had an impact in their life. So I began to instruct people to get me in front of their problem and it would get fixed; This is called empathy.
If you wanted me to fix your problem, help me feel your pain, your frustration - and I would become your advocate to get it fixed. But what happens when I couldn't relate, when I didn't empathize with you?
What do you think Jesus would've done had He not empathized with each of us? Sure He might've lived a long and prosperous life, growing old and wise. But that wasn't His calling, and He never abandoned us. Even knowing we wouldn't be able to empathize with Him in His pain - He sacrificed all for the glory of God!
So don't just pretend to love others. Really love them... Don't think you know it all.
How then are we suppose to find this love for others and extend grace to them - as grace was extended to us? It comes not from within, friends. It comes from loving Him. In other words, while I was demonstrating some level of maturity by trying to empathize with another's struggle, that's not the answer. The answer is to love God - with ALL of my heart and mind. Then, and only then, can I empathize with what He would have me do in His name for another.
Worry. Anger. Hate. Fear. Stubbornness.
All are natural emotions, and expected. But they stand in the way of His will. So expect them and reason through them. Clothe yourself in His grace and love, and through your strengthening faith you will find an answer - His answer for all time. By empathizing with His will for your life, your faith can come alive and be a truer witness for Him in this world.
Seeking the Son is a website dedicated to the search for a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Ken is also the founder of ChangeForge, a website focusing on the shifting paradigms of business and technology. To discover all of the places you can connect with Ken, please connect with him here.
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