Are those around you worthy or unworthy?

 I think it's time for a heart challenge, believing friend.

We all know that the last 8 months have been rough ones.  Our lives were turned upside down by this virus.  Lives have been lost.  Jobs have been lost.   The roller coaster ride of opinions has left us with informational whiplash.  Fear of the unknowns has zapped the emotional strength of many.  Opposing choices have caused relationships to break and fall apart.  Churches have been strained and even ripped apart.  There has been very little rest of heart for many.  Everyone would agree that it's been a tough time that we would rather not repeat.  

 

One area that has stirred my heart all along is relationships.  As opposing opinions started to surface and people started to take sides, a battle began in hearts.  The battle brought out frustration, anger, disdain, irritation, and even hatred.  People started to evaluate relationships and categorize them - worthy or unworthy.  Now, likely many of us never realized that we were sorting relationships into those two categories, but it happened in the midst of the stresses and differences.  


In the midst, my own heart dealt with irritation.  I started to allow a wall to go up between myself and friends that stood opposite of me.  I felt frustrated with those who just couldn't see things the way I did.  It was in those moments that I had to ask God what to do.  Do I allow the wall to go up?  Do I allow frustration to destroy relationships?  Do I categorize people as worthy and unworthy?  

 

Romans 15:5-7 says, "Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,  so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

 

Ephesians 2:14 instructs us, "For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall."

 

 When I read these Scriptures, the answers are clear to me.  No, I may not let the walls go up.  No I may not let frustrations destroy relationships.  No I may not categorize people as unworthy.  We are called to accept one another.  We are called to break down the walls.  We are called to glorify God.  I need to continue to build into relationships, release my frustrations, and value everyone as Christ does.


My heart challenge today is for you to check your heart.  Have you categorized others as worthy and unworthy in your heart?  Let me ask a few questions to help you evaluate.

*Have you pulled back from relationships because you have different views of the situation?

*Have you withheld love, encouragement, or prayers for others during this time?

*Have you cut others out of your life in any way because you don't agree with their actions in the last few months?

*Have you allowed disdain to build up in your heart toward another?

*Do you have an unforgiving heart toward another because of what has transpired this year?


The answer to some of these questions likely sent a pang of guilt through many hearts.  I know it did mine.   Recently I was wrestling with some of these questions.  One particular person's response to this virus has rocked my world in ways I never saw coming.  It caused much loss in my life -relationships, activities, and even finances.  I was stewing in my heart over those losses.  Without even realizing it, I had labeled the individual unworthy. One morning God smacked me square between the eyes and showed me the ugly truth.  I was brought to the point where I had to confess my wrong thinking and forgive the individual. 

 

True, Christlike love in relationship never labels one unworthy.  It never withholds good.  It is always a faithful friend, even when there is disagreement.   It doesn't cast away friendships.  It isn't stingy with love.  It doesn't withhold encouragement from a fellow brother or sister in Christ.  


Friend, I encourage you to take these things before the Lord.  Be willing to confess what He shows you.  We need to be like Him.  We need to relate like Him.  We need to love like Him. We need one another.  The world needs to see that we are different, that we are like Christ. 

 

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Proverbs 3:27


Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Galatians 6:9-10

 

 

 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thirty Years. Not My Will But Yours.

 Thirty years. Thirty years. Thirty years. With every new stair climbed, I quietly uttered "Thirty years."  It was my mind and heart survival phrase at that moment.  It had been several exhausting days of giving and giving and giving some more. I thought I was going to have a refreshing night sleep when suddenly I was needed several times throughout the night.  Sleep was scarce and interrupted.  I was having to give more than I wanted to give at that moment.  As I headed back up to our bedroom for the umpteenth time, each step I took I reminded myself, "Thirty years."  Over the last year those two words have brought my heart back into focus on more occasions that I care to admit. As we walked life with our big circle over this last year, it resulted in one of the most demanding years we have had in a long time. Maybe ever.  Physically. Emotionally. Spiritually. Practically.  Relationally.  In every area we had been asked to give more tha...
Read more

The Perfect Garden - Take Two...or Three

I love to garden!  Whether it's planting and tending my herb garden, planting in the raised beds, or filling up our large garden, it always excites me.  For the last two years I took the time to plan out the exact garden we wanted on graph paper. I  measured out each crop into needed space leaving enough room for the rototiller to come through between sections.  I made sure companion crops would be planted near one another so we could have the best possible outcome.  All of the seeds were purchased and organic fertilizer had been ordered and was ready to use.  Summer of 2023 arrived.  We were able to plant everything according to plan.  All the raised beds were full.  Trays of herbs were growing and would soon be added to the herb garden.  The large garden had been tilled up by Tim and time was taken to measure out each section before all of the seeds went in.  Sweet corn, tomatoes, squash, different types of melons and beans all fi...
Read more

Pets, Protection, and Loving Passionately

I give you a new commandment – to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2 Shortly after I arrived home on Friday Tim pulled me aside to let me know our mama cat had been hit by a car and did not survive.  He knew it had been a hard day, that my emotions were on overload, and that it would be hard news especially since she left behind a litter of kittens.  I was so sad.  The mama was a great cat and super mom to her kittens.  Not only had we lost our pet, but now we had 4 orphaned kittens that were only two weeks old.  My sadness was quickly overcome with my mama instinct to do everything we could to save those sweet kittens. We quickly scanned online articles and sent David on a quick run to our local farm st...
Read more