Be Nice Y'all
Why can't everyone just be nice to other people and treat them as they would like to be treated? Why does God have to command us not to oppress other people?(Leviticus 25:17) I think we really know the answers to these questions, but let's consider the reasons in the light of this command.
Selfishness and pride are very basic factors of human nature. After a toddler learns to say "no," he will begin to say "mine." Unfortunately, the selfishness does not go away when the child grows up, unless there is a major change of heart. We see people who are 40 and 50 years old acting like they are 2 years old. They have to have all of the money and toys they can get, and they do not care who they have to hurt or how they have to lie to get what they want. I believe this is a huge issue for life in the USA and our politics right now. People see the good points of capitalism, but they are tired of people oppressing other people. They do not know what to do, so they try to force people to be nice to each other by passing laws. I wish it was that easy, but it is not.
People are not going to be nice, care about others, and share what they have, until they come to know the Lord and have a genuine heart change. Only then can we love others with an unselfish, godly love. Only then will we not feel the need for all of the money and toys, because we will find our peace and joy in the Lord, not in material things or human experiences. Therefore, yes, we need to encourage people to be nice all the time, but at the same time, we must share the Good News of Jesus Christ with them, so that they can be set free from pride and selfishness and truly care for others like Jesus does.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 26-27 and Numbers 1.
Selfishness and pride are very basic factors of human nature. After a toddler learns to say "no," he will begin to say "mine." Unfortunately, the selfishness does not go away when the child grows up, unless there is a major change of heart. We see people who are 40 and 50 years old acting like they are 2 years old. They have to have all of the money and toys they can get, and they do not care who they have to hurt or how they have to lie to get what they want. I believe this is a huge issue for life in the USA and our politics right now. People see the good points of capitalism, but they are tired of people oppressing other people. They do not know what to do, so they try to force people to be nice to each other by passing laws. I wish it was that easy, but it is not.
People are not going to be nice, care about others, and share what they have, until they come to know the Lord and have a genuine heart change. Only then can we love others with an unselfish, godly love. Only then will we not feel the need for all of the money and toys, because we will find our peace and joy in the Lord, not in material things or human experiences. Therefore, yes, we need to encourage people to be nice all the time, but at the same time, we must share the Good News of Jesus Christ with them, so that they can be set free from pride and selfishness and truly care for others like Jesus does.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 26-27 and Numbers 1.