Debre Fileta professional counsellor observes people’s kindness is selfish. The motto is “I’ll do it for you, if you do it for me.”. We do things for others to receive things in return. Apostle Paul in the Bible writes this important piece of advice, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…”
Jesus is the best model as mentioned in this verse. He didn’t leverage authority for personal advantage -power, pleasure, control or comfort but took the nature of a servant. Jesus spent His time investing in others. Jesus focused His attention in helping others to the point of giving up His own life. As relationships are transactional, we don’t do anything without return. In business terms it is called ROI (Return of investment). Jesus questioned this attitude by asking, "If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; for your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High". Is this even possible? If yes, why should it matter in a world when everything is seen as an advantage?
One can understand the dilemma if the person is conscious of his/her purpose in the light of God. Jesus states, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”. The concept of transaction is to amass profits, wealth, treasures hoping to live on earth for eternity, which is unfortunately not true. The storehouse and the treasures can be susceptible to danger including life and it profits no one. Jesus gives a higher perspective of life and eternity.
We are going to live for eternity with Him. This is not our permanent home. Jesus said to a woman whose brother died and was buried for four days (Note: this is a true story and not a myth), “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”. John Piper tweeted, “even though we die, we do not die. Nor will we ever die.”. There is hope in this statement because of what Jesus declared and claimed – that He is the resurrection and life. He brought Lazarus to life after he died and was buried in a cave for four days. Similarly, Jesus too rose from the dead, which we call resurrection. This gives us hope to live forever with Him. Life doesn’t have to be transactional. Instead, it can be forgiving, showing grace and mercy towards one another as Christ loved, giving us a life that is satisfying and enriching.
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