What Do Ye More Than Others?
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus asked a penetrating question: “If ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?” (Matthew 5:46-47). The immediate context discusses our treatment of others. It specifically instructs us to do good, even to those who have shown themselves to be our enemies. This is a difficult challenge for us all.
The principle of ‘what do ye more than others’ has wide application to all of our service for the Lord. Consider:
1) Bible study: If the only time you open your Bible is an occasional flipping of the pages during the Sunday morning worship service, then we would suggest that you aren’t doing anything more than most other people do in our Biblically illiterate society. A regular habit of genuine Bible reading and study is rare in our day and time. Are you such a student, or are you only doing what most other folks do?
2) Attendance: All the statistics indicate that church attendance is way down in our culture. Few people attend services on a regular weekly basis. Other activities (mostly recreational) keep people away. What about you? Are you different from the majority? Do you conscientiously adjust your schedule so that you can be present all the time?
3) Giving: It is common for folks to contribute a few dollars on any given Sunday. Typically this is money that is ‘left over’ after personal wants and wishes have been fulfilled – it’s not a high priority budget matter – it’s sort of an after thought. The Scriptures teach that our giving ought to be carefully planned and sacrificially offered (1 Cor. 16:1,2; 2 Cor. 9:6,7), Are you doing more than others in regards to your giving?
4) Evangelism: We’ve all heard that no one should discuss politics or religion. But in reality almost everyone these days will discuss politics – while religion remains seriously ‘off limits’. Do you agree with this common approach? Do you keep your faith to yourself? Or, are you willing to let others know where you stand and what you believe?
5) Purity of life: Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). But the world promotes an entirely different lifestyle. Filthy movies and dirty TV shows, immoral content and pornography on the Internet, sexual sins, drinking alcohol, dancing, gambling – all these are typical among those in the world, and unfortunately among many who call themselves Christians. Are you just following the crowd, doing no more and no different from others? Or, are you striving to live the pure moral life that the Lord desires?
“What do ye more than others?” That’s a worthy question for us all to consider. What about your life, your example, your devotion to the Lord? Think!
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus asked a penetrating question: “If ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?” (Matthew 5:46-47). The immediate context discusses our treatment of others. It specifically instructs us to do good, even to those who have shown themselves to be our enemies. This is a difficult challenge for us all.
The principle of ‘what do ye more than others’ has wide application to all of our service for the Lord. Consider:
1) Bible study: If the only time you open your Bible is an occasional flipping of the pages during the Sunday morning worship service, then we would suggest that you aren’t doing anything more than most other people do in our Biblically illiterate society. A regular habit of genuine Bible reading and study is rare in our day and time. Are you such a student, or are you only doing what most other folks do?
2) Attendance: All the statistics indicate that church attendance is way down in our culture. Few people attend services on a regular weekly basis. Other activities (mostly recreational) keep people away. What about you? Are you different from the majority? Do you conscientiously adjust your schedule so that you can be present all the time?
3) Giving: It is common for folks to contribute a few dollars on any given Sunday. Typically this is money that is ‘left over’ after personal wants and wishes have been fulfilled – it’s not a high priority budget matter – it’s sort of an after thought. The Scriptures teach that our giving ought to be carefully planned and sacrificially offered (1 Cor. 16:1,2; 2 Cor. 9:6,7), Are you doing more than others in regards to your giving?
4) Evangelism: We’ve all heard that no one should discuss politics or religion. But in reality almost everyone these days will discuss politics – while religion remains seriously ‘off limits’. Do you agree with this common approach? Do you keep your faith to yourself? Or, are you willing to let others know where you stand and what you believe?
5) Purity of life: Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). But the world promotes an entirely different lifestyle. Filthy movies and dirty TV shows, immoral content and pornography on the Internet, sexual sins, drinking alcohol, dancing, gambling – all these are typical among those in the world, and unfortunately among many who call themselves Christians. Are you just following the crowd, doing no more and no different from others? Or, are you striving to live the pure moral life that the Lord desires?
“What do ye more than others?” That’s a worthy question for us all to consider. What about your life, your example, your devotion to the Lord? Think!
- by Greg Gwin
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