It really isn’t difficult to be a Christian if you don’t have to deal with people. But then what do we do with those pesky scriptures that ask us to love our neighbors (Mark 12:31), love our families (Ephesians 5:25), love one another (John 13:34,), and yea verily – even love our enemies (Matthew 5:43)? Christians should love God and love… um… let’s see… what’s the word I’m looking for? …Um …oh yes…. we should love people!
Unfortunately, some people aren’t all that lovable. I’m not referring to criminals and those who perform unspeakable atrocities. I’m talking about people we meet every day. Some relatively normal people can irritate and frustrate us to distraction.
Some people finish our sentences for us before we are done with our thoughts.
Some people are stick-in-the-muds and will never try anything new or different.
Some people are just angry at life and will take it out on us.
Some people will focus on the 1% flaw instead of the 99% good.
Some people feel their way is the only way to do something.
Some people feign listening to our point of view instead of trying to understand where we are coming from.
Some people think if they talk louder we will agree with them.
Some people can’t accept the fact that we understand their position from every angle and still don’t agree.
Some people set up their standard of righteousness for everyone.
Some people deliberately cut us off in traffic.
Some people gossip and say things that are untrue about us.
Some people think they know more than anyone else about a subject.
Some people value their own opinion over anyone else’s.
Some people poke their noses in our business and give us unwanted advice.
Some people are rude and thoughtless.
Some people take the credit while we do the work.
Some people condemn others for what they, themselves have been known to do.
Some people will make a joke at our expense.
Some people have no sense of humor at all.
Some people never apologize.
Some people never say, “Thank you!”
Some people pretend to be our friends, but talk behind our backs.
Some people will make us feel unvalued, unappreciated, and unwanted.
Some people are self centered.
The list could go on and on…
Guess what? God tells us to love these people anyway – not because they deserve to be loved, but because they need to be loved. Loving people doesn’t mean never getting irritated or frustrated with them. Loving people doesn’t mean always condoning what they do or agreeing with what they say. We can love the person but not necessarily their actions. That might take a lot of prayer and patience, but no one said being a Christian would be easy!
Pingback: July 28, 2013 | Living Hope Fellowship