Read it: Galatians 5:13, Romans 12
Live it:
The world is full of two kinds of people: givers and takers. The takers eat well, and the givers sleep well. I want to encourage you to be a giver. Give back through your relationships, give back to your community, give back to our church, and even give back to those who don’t deserve it.
You may have a “taker” in your life who would meet the category of someone you feel doesn’t deserve it. Maybe they don’t make the best decisions and are living life stress-free because they expect you to come and take on the stress that they aren’t feeling and help fix it for them. I’m not encouraging you to do that; I am encouraging you to carry the message of Christ but not carry the person. Love others, but don’t try to be someone’s savior. Point them to the cross. Point them to our savior. That’s true discipleship.
We used to have a dog, and I would often take him on hikes up San Tan Mountain in Queen Creek. I remember the first time I took him up the mountain. The weather was nice, but I was concerned that he would be dehydrated because it’s not an easy hike at all, and our dog was not that big.
So, I was worried about him, and I cradled him in my arms and hiked up the mountain. He enjoyed the ride, and by the time we reached the top of the mountain, he had fallen asleep. However, I was in so much pain that I didn’t enjoy it at all. I remember saying to myself, “I’ll never do that again.”
Sure enough, I came back and did the hike again with him; however, this time, I made him get to the top on his own, and we once again reached the top of the mountain. He seemed happier reaching the top on his own, and I was not in pain.
Sometimes, we do the same to the people in our lives. We think we need to carry someone else, but in the end, we are only hurting them and ourselves. Disciplining others is hard because ultimately, they have to make their own decisions. Making those decisions for them prevents them from growing in their faith. Take some time to reflect on your relationships. Is there anyone in your life whom you are trying to save through your own power? Point them to the cross, pray for them, take the weight of their choices off your shoulders, and give the burden you feel over to God.
Ps. James