Biblically worthy
Since I am persuaded that the Bible represents the words of the one and only God I try to set it before me as my guide. Let us look, then, at what God through Paul says is worthy.
1 I
therefore , a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2-3–ESV)
Humility? Gentleness? Patience? Bearing with one another? Maintenance of unity? Those do not taste as good as the words of Maximus do they? No matter how they feel from what Paul tells us they are God’s shape.
Humility and gentleness in our interaction with others are what God lays before us. Paul pushes aside the plate filled with earthly glory and slides over in front of us another.
What if Maximus would have chosen God’s way? What if he would have forgiven Commodus for the murder of his wife and child? I bet there is an almost palpable let down in thinking that. How could forgiveness ever rival the movie scene from above? It is different and maybe mentally wrenching, but accompanied by a more feasible reality. Maximus’ heroics are fantasy. Things like that are not attainable for more than a few and those few are almost flukes. A transcendent spirit that grants strength under oppression is available because as Christ said, “After I leave I will send to you another counselor.” He did.
There is an answer in contemporary literature that is more powerful that Maximus’ reply to Commodus. It comes in the 37th chapter of A Voice in the Wind Francine Rivers’ first book in her Mark of the Lion trilogy. I thought to include it here, but it is so much better on the back of its preceding thirty-six chapters.
Rental escapades
Recall this situation as a table set before you, one with two plates. God’s way; man’s way. That of Maximus or of Hadassah.
Let me draw up before you a situation on my table. Several years ago upon the recommendation of a family friend I rented a house to someone. I came to a point where I had to file a dispossessory affidavit (step 1 in the eviction process) against that party who did not do a lot of renting. If you are in the rental business you hear a lot of voices. Most are neither humble nor gentle. A time comes when affidavits are to be filed, but a Christian must walk the trail as God would have them walk. I hope I have. My conscience is clear, but there is an unpleasant side to all of this.
Financial sticks are tricky ones. Talk money and people get dicey. If we are the ones with the money we can use the stick to beat those around us. Is that God’s way? Or, is it better to come out on the short end? If we look at Ephesians 4:2 there is a third way to see it. It is best to approach every situation as God would have you approach it. I am not writing this to give or receive advice. In looking back I have disappointment, but a sense of having learned and been honorable in my dealings with this party.
That is the thing which Paul seems to be guiding us toward as worthy. I think that I have carried on in this manner. I would rather be taken advantage of than take advantage. I prefer to err toward gentleness than collision. Clearly part of this is personality, but it is personality managed by scriptures. Most of the time the shape is Gladiator vs. Renter. Not on my watch.
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