Over lunch with two good friends this week, we discussed our
views on ‘irritating people’ and our tendencies to categorize and write them off.
All three of us walked away feeling convicted for our own selfishness as we
examined how we look at people and their problems.
One question/comment in particular that moved us from
conversation to self-evaluation was that of: “Why would I spend time with such
and such a person when all they do is talk about themselves?” Behind this question lay
all kinds of unexamined pride for each of us in thinking that our time would be
better spent with people that would involve us more… See what was happening
here? We were allocating our time and conversational energy to those
considering us and our ideas as viable topics for discussion. And all the while,
we were maintaining the mindset that driving us away was THEIR self-centered
worldview and not our own.
When was that last time you or I pursued a relationship
where we had seemingly nothing to gain (no tangible return on investment
driving us so to speak)? Is it the praise you will receive? Is it the gratitude of
the person you are helping? Or is it the friendship you hope to show forth in
the end? Often in my arrogance I am moved by what others will think, but
rarely am I motivated purely by love for others independent of self. In my life
this is a challenge, and one I intend by God’s grace to fight. Relationships do
go both ways, but true unconditional love does not extend out of what others
have to offer us. This is one reason why God’s love is truly unconditional in
that He bestowed it on us amidst our helpless hell bound state, knowing that we
were incapable of giving anything to His self-sufficiency. What amazing and
altogether wonderful love that God should call us out of sin to Himself, what
motivation to enjoy Him and honor His great name!
