God’s Hand Reaching Out: Are We Responding to Him
Have we ever wondered who we love—more?
Do we love ourselves? Of course we do, and we would argue that we need to love, we must love ourselves—some.
How in the world can we care and love others if we do not first love and care for our own wellbeing?! That’s what we think is the best plan.
We say:
- We must be healthy.
- We must be fit.
- We must be secure: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
- Then, when we are, yes, then we can help and care and tend to the needs of others.
However, could it be that WE have it wrong? Could it also be true that we are more “pharisaical” than we think?
Ouch!
Thus, before we label ourselves, let us first look up three things:
- What was so wrong with the Pharisees?
- What does it truly mean to be “pharisaical”?
- What does Jesus say about why we should not be like them in our actions, in our thoughts, and in our worship (like the Pharisees)?
To begin, we must first know the definition of “pharisaical,” so I asked Mr. Noah Webster who defines this term as observing rituals and practices over meaning. This also includes the act of taking on the actions of self-righteousness and hypocrite.
Ouch! Ouch!
- What was so wrong with the Pharisees?
- What does it truly mean to be “pharisaical”?
The only way to really answer that question is to see what Jesus said was wrong with them.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
(Matthew 23: 23-24 NASB)
You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”
Pharisees were the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, and they were to know the Law. It is a fact; they did know the Law of Moses and were teachers of the Law. Nevertheless, they were also to be leaders to the people they served, to those who followed their teaching. Thus, they were not to add to others burdens but instead help relieve their burden, to help reduce their anxiety.
QUESTION:
WHO DO WE KNOW WHO IS CARRYING A HEAVY BURDEN? & HOW ARE WE HELPING THAT PERSON CARRY HIS BURDEN?
Pharisees were to lead the people, to direct the people to follow God’s Law, and they did their job so well. They could direct anyone to see his own sin—to see “their speck in their own eye,” but unfortunately, the leaders (the Pharisees) could not see “the log protruding from their own eye.”
QUESTION:
ARE WE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING TO BEAR THE BURDENS OF OTHERS, TO TRULY HELP THEM? OR ARE WE MERELY POINTING OUT THE SPLINTER STICKING OUT FROM THEIR EYES?
In order to be the “religious leaders,” the Pharisees needed to BE LIKE GOD! This means simply being faithful because God is faithful. This also means to be loving because God loves all men equally. Finally, this means to lead by being a servant to others (just as Jesus taught us to be).
QUESTION:
HAVE WE HELPED OTHERS MORE THAN WE HAVE HELPED OURSELVES? & ARE WE EVEN CONCERNED, REALLY, REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW OUR NEIGHBOR IS SUFFERING TO MAKE ENDS MEET?
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!
God’s Hand Is Reaching Out to Others.
- Are We Responding to Him Through Our Response to the World Surrounding Us?
- Are We Truly the Hands & Feet of Our Savior Jesus?
3. What does Jesus say about why we should NOT BE like them (the Pharisees) in our actions, in
our thoughts, and in our worship?
The only way to really answer that question is to see what Jesus said would be the End-Result If we do not head God’s Word.
“Therefore, who nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew 5: 19-20 NASB)
For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
- We need to make personal relationships with others.
- We need to pay attention to their struggles and their needs.
- We need to lend a helping hand.
- We need to open our wallets.
- We need to be the disciples of Jesus to a hurting world.
The God of the universe chose to dwell among us in the person of His Only Son Jesus.
WHY?
This is such an easy question to answer!
God intends to work His purpose in the world.
We should look at every person in this light.
- God takes a personal interest in His work, in His creation—in every man, woman, and child.
- God wants to show up in what we do.
- God wants you and me to BE THE CHURCH!
God wants us—the children of God—to BE THE HANDS & FEET of JESUS TO the HURTING WORLD of PEOPLE WHO SURROUND US!
The church, the bride of Christ, is filled with individual members who were created by God to function in communion with one another. We are a diverse lot with various spiritual gifts that are to be used to serve the God we love, and we serve God by loving others, by helping those in need, by leading the lost to see our Savior, by being Jesus’ hands and Jesus’ feet.
- By loving God FIRST!
- By loving our neighbor as we love our own self!
So in closing, we find the book of the prophet Malachi. It is there, in the final book of the Old Testament & before the silence of God (after the time of the Law and Prophets, a period that lasted approximately 400 years), we find God’s proclamation.
- Let us SEE with clarity the words of God given to His prophet.
- Let us NOT pretend to give God our best and then give Him less.
“But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King, says the LORD of armies, “and My name is feared among the nations.”
(Malachi 1: 14 NASB)
God’s Hand Is Reaching Out (to Others).
Let us aspire to NOT be like the Pharisees but let us BE LIKE JESUS!
Are We Responding to Our Father—Through Our Response to the World Surrounding Us?
Are We Truly the Hands & Feet of Our Savior Jesus?