Some people strive hard to live up to the expectations of others, such as peers, colleagues or rivals. The big question is always, “What impression will they have of me?” Others set their own benchmarks based on personal ambition to achieve success, often resulting in disappointment or frustration.
We are fearfully, wonderfully and uniquely made by God and our focus should be meeting God’s expectations of us. According to Micah the prophet, the people of Israel and Judah were searching to discern God’s requirement of them. They were under the impression that God only required a religious response – such as Sabbath keeping, animal sacrifices and rituals. There are Christians who think the same way –church attendance, observance of rituals prescribed by the denomination to which they belong, tithing to support the church and other church related activities. All very good, but we need to go beyond such so-called ‘religious activities.’
The Lord desires our praise and worship. He accepts the gifts we bring to Him. But God’s requirement extends beyond Sunday to the rest of the week, beyond the confines of the church to the world we live in. Our mission is to save souls, grow saints and care for suffering humanity. Christianity is not just about religious rites but human rights of justice, fairness and mercy as well.
Here is an important injunction concerning our relationship with our fellowmen. “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” Micah 6: 8 (NIV)
Jesus spoke strongly against the teachers of the law and the Pharisees for neglecting the more important matters of the law, namely justice, mercy and faithfulness. (Matt. 23: 23). They were punctilious when it came to the observance of the law, obeying to the letter, but negligent when it came to practising their faith and doing right towards others in acting justly.
Our faith in God must not just be treated as insurance for getting into Heaven when we leave this world, but also to be expressed in everyday relationships. It must begin in the family. Do we deal fairly with our loved ones, parents, siblings, spouses, and children? We owe them our duty of fairness. Charity begins at home.
We value the fellowship of believers in church. “In a Christian community, everything depends upon whether each individual is an indispensable link in a chain. Only when even the smallest link is securely interlocked is the chain unbreakable. A community which allows unemployed members to exist within it will perish because of them. It will be well, therefore, if every member receives a definite task to perform for the community, that he may know in hours of doubt that he, too, is not useless and unusable. Every Christian community must realize that not only do the weak need the strong, but also that the strong cannot exist without the weak. The elimination of the weak is the death of the fellowship.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Christians must possess the right attitudes within the church – having the right heart and maintaining right relationships with each other.
What about our responsibility outside the family and church? As employers how do we treat our employees? As employees, do we give fair service even when the employer is not around? Justice or fairness must be upheld always. To act justly is to accept the well being of others in society.
God requires us to ‘love mercy’ not just to have and show mercy. Let us show compassion for others not just from a sense of duty or obedience to rules set by the church, organisation or company. Mercy must be inherent in our lives. The follower of Christ must always portray the spirit of Christ in a forgiving spirit. “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” (1 Peter 3: 8)
The third but not least requirement from God of His servants is to walk humbly with God. No arrogance or elitist attitude, but having the humble spirit of Christ. The Bible tells us “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” (Phil. 2: 3)
(This article was written for The Salvation Army War Cry Singapore.Malaysia/Myanmar
March issue.
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