A
friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
-- Proverbs 17:17
God’s
omnipotence and perfection are consistent themes throughout the Bible. And
since he’s the Creator of all things and we’re merely his limited creations, we
shouldn’t think twice that he’s all-knowing and all-seeing of things past,
present and future. On the other hand, what can make us wonder is that his
words and deeds so often contradict human nature.
“My thoughts are not
your thoughts,”
God tells us through the Book of Isaiah,
and
Christ’s
bold perspective sheds new light on the ways we should treat our neighbors. And
how much better would this world be if we made time to adopt a servant’s attitude and put
the interests of others before our own?
Jesus
answered this question through his own example. First, he willingly surrendered
his rightful privileges as God’s only Son. He entered the world through humble
circumstances — a birth among farm animals in a filthy stable. And as he grew up,
he learned to make a common-man’s living as a carpenter. Jesus could have lived
in splendor as the King of Kings. But he instead chose a nomadic lifestyle for
teaching the Good News of salvation to all who would listen.
That’s quite a life-lesson — and one taught by
the One with a humble servant’s heart. He’s also the One who came to serve
rather than to be served. And although he had just three years to save the
world, he still made time in his busy schedule to touch the lives of society’s outcasts.
It was this same Jesus who healed the sick, fed the hungry and trained
disciples toward the way of truth.
Our
non-stop, 24/7 existence may pull us in many self-serving directions, but our
call as Christ-followers is to follow his example. It’s by defying our selfish nature
that we can love our neighbors — whether they’re next door or a continent away
— and make God’s thoughts our own.
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