Sunday, April 13, 2008

Would you rather...??

Would you rather serve your enemy for a day?
or
Be served for a day by someone you are deeply indebted to?

10 comments:

not2brightGRAM said...

Oh, that's a hard one. But, you have given me something to think about today!

Off the top of my head, I think of two Scriptures:

"But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil."
Luke 6:35
(serve your enemy)

and

"Then Jesus poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter.

Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?"

Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter."

Peter said to Him, "Never shall You wash my feet!"

Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."

Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head."

John 13:5-9
(be served for a day by someone you are deeply indebted to)

Either one would be difficult for me! My cold heart in the first case, and pride in the second.

not2brightGRAM said...

P.S. I just realized (once again) in reading my response, that Jesus is a beautiful God! In both cases, He is kind and giving. How can I help but love Him?!

Jess(ica) said...

I thought of those two scenarios you posted Scripture on (just didn't think of those exact scriptures) but yeah, its a hard one!

Four peas in a pod said...

Would you still serve your enemy if your reward would not be great and ye wouldn't be a child of the Highest?

Jess(ica) said...

That is a very good questions 3PIP!
And hard to answer!

While there are definite spiritual implications, my intent in asking the question was more or less just an everyday thing... I think some people are drawn to the Spiritual implications, which is totally fine!!! But it will also be interesting to see what people might answer setting that aside, too.

I think it would be very hard to serve my enemy! Especially if they had an attitude of "haha in your face" rather than it being a "kill them with kindness" thing.

not2brightGRAM said...

Is anyone (besides the Highest) purely altruistic?

And, I can't personally answer your question because I am very unlike the Highest. I have a hard time loving my enemies, doing good and lending, hoping for nothing.

I'm just thankful that the Highest loves me (His enemy), does me good, and lends so much to me, hoping for (expecting) nothing in return.

Jess(ica) said...

I also meant to say that my first reaction would be in relation to the Spiritual Response. But, like Pup confessed, my life is also evident of the "What I want to be like" and the "what I really am like" discrepency.

Four peas in a pod said...

I think serving your enemy with no reward (no altruistic value motive) is the purest form of "Christ-like".

Interestingly, striving for this "pure heart", for a lack of better description, is something that motivates peoples across many faiths, and even some with "no categorical faith".

It's what makes me realize God is bigger than our earthly religions.

A day in the Life... said...

I don't like being served by others, so I would rather serve my Enemy :D

Anonymous said...

I don't find this a hard one to answer.I would rather serve a enemy for a day.(Have done it many times in my life)Doing good for our Lords people is my motive.Doesn't make it easy. I have also been served by people I have been indebted to and it makes me feel very humble.(and grateful)