The Sermon on the Mount

I don't think God's will for anyone goes beyond that we are to love God with all our heart, our soul and our minds, and to love our neighbour as ourselves. I don't think there is a will beyond that. I think people want to think there may be a grand plan to their lives or that it is all more complicated than it is.

But most of us are not called to be missionaries, or martyrs or pastors or whatever it is that people think they 'ought' to be called for.

We are however, all called to love our neighbour as ourselves. We are called to do that every day. In practise to me that means to be aware of our surroundings and the people who surround us, and pick up on the vibes that tell us that maybe someone is having a hard time of it, and needs a listening ear.

In Luke 3, when John is baptising people, they are asking the same question regarding their purpose?

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

In Luke 6, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reiterates what God wants us to do with our lives.

27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.

30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

Why don't people just do what God asks of them? What He wants of us isn't very complicated but we are rather like the rich young man who wanted to know what he should do, and made a point of telling Jesus how religious he was and how basically, he really was a very good man who had kept the Law from his youth. And Jesus told him that if he would be perfect, he should sell all that he had and give it to the poor. And the young man wanted a pat on the back and a good boy. He didn't want to do more than he was doing. Just like us.

This is another example of how Christians pick and choose what they want to believe and do. They believe that Paul should be obeyed quite literally when it comes to women in the church or homosexuality being a sin, but when it comes to literally giving away all that they have or even something as small as giving to panhandlers on the street, then they want to rationalise it away. After all, who knows what the panhandler may use his money for? Nothing good, we think to ourselves, that's for sure. Probably liquor or drugs or loose women.

And how can God ask for us to give everything we own away? Is that good stewardship? Wouldn't we better serve him by keeping our money - after all we tithe and how could we tithe if we had no money?

One thing has struck me about Jesus' actions. He didn't tell us to worry about how the other guy was going to use our extra coat or the money we gave. And He specifically told us to live like the lilies of the field and the birds of the air who the heavenly Father provides for, while they do not worry how they will eat or where they will live.

If Christians realised that they are not of this world - that we are in this world, but not of this world - if they knew what that meant, they wouldn't live like they live, claiming to have faith but constantly piling up the piggy bank for the future. We are not to live that way. The politics of the world should be of no concern for the Christian, neither should wars. They are wars of this world and the Prince of this world is the Lord of Darkness, not the Lord of Light.

I have always given to panhandlers. I have always given to whoever asked me for anything. I admit that I am glad that no one has yet asked me for my house. I would be in a real dilemma then. Although I am not sure it counts as mine since the bank still owns part of it. But that is what Jesus requires of us. To have that much faith that we can give our house away and still believe that He will provide for us.

It is not my concern what a panhandler might use the money for. I am obeying Jesus.

If you are talking however about special gifts and talents a person has, and that being one's purpose in life, they are all secondary to the Sermon on the Mount. But beyond that, all gifts, whether one has a gift for healing, as in being a doctor, or as an artist, ultimately all gifts are from God and should be developed. The way in which the gift glorifies God may not always be obvious, but nonetheless, if one is aware always that one's gifts come from God, they do glorify the Father.

Layla