As we continue going through the Sermon on the Mount, I confess that I often struggle with this next section. I want to analyze this section to make it mean something other than what it says.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Matthew 5: 38-42
Thinking through this passage, I don’t think Jesus has just gone off to another subject. He is still teaching that our actions flow from our heart. When we have a “heart for God” and we are focused on seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, then these things don’t matter. When a person wrongs us, it is our pride and selfish ambition that wants to strike back.
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” James 4:1
I have been in and witnessed many situations where restraint and reason proved to overcome “an evil person.” Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” I have seen this many times in my own life and others. Sometimes I respond to a comment or situation out of frustration, anger, and pride and a simple, quick “harsh word stirs up anger” and the situation just begins to get worse. An “eye for an eye.”
I like to think that I am a giving person. I invest a lot of my time in helping others. Generally, though, it is things that I enjoy doing, so I’m not sure if I am doing it to help or as an excuse to do something that I enjoy. But there are times that I get frustrated because sometimes I don’t get to do what I want to do. That selfishness and pride begins to show through. I want to spend some time building my kingdom, rather than the kingdom of God. It is certainly not wrong to have goals and ambitions in life and to follow the dreams for our lives that God has given us. But we do need to remind ourselves along the way that these dreams and goals that God has given us are ultimately designed to build His kingdom, not ours. Jesus says that he came to serve, not to be served (Matthew 20:28). When we center our lives around building our kingdom, then we start to react in anger, seek revenge, and withhold from others.
When someone asks for money, I struggle with that. I worked hard for that money and I already don’t have enough money to do all of the things that I want to do. I have my own kingdom to build and it is going to cost everything I can get. I try to set aside my regular 10% of my income and a little bit more to give, but when the ask goes beyond that, I struggle with being a generous and giving person. How am I supposed to build my kingdom if I don’t have enough money?
There are so many people and organizations asking for our money and our time today. It is impossible to give to everything that comes up and every person who asks for money in any kind of meaningful way. Sometimes it seems the number of non-profits is greater than the number of for-profits. So how do I “give to the one who asks” every time?
It goes back to being a heart issue. Why do I not want to give? Is it because I want to keep what I have or is this truly a cause that I do not want to support? Do I want to spend what I have on my own selfish desires and build my kingdom? (James 4:2-3) Giving is more than an act of kindness, it is an act of faith.
Jesus tells us in Luke 6:38 to “give and it will be given to you.” If you want money, then give money. If you want time, then give time. If you want relationships and friendship, then give relationship and friendship. If you want to be mistreated, then mistreat others. If you want anger, then give anger. If you want peace, then give peace. Whatever you give, it will be given back to you. If you want to receive a little, then give a little. If you want to receive a lot, then give a lot.
Giving is such a hard topic. It is something that I struggle with, especially when it comes to giving away money. Sometimes when someone asks, I give just enough to make me feel good. I am giving, but the heart of the matter comes back to me. My selfishness and pride. I am not giving because I want to give. Sure, I say that I want to give and bless others, but the truth is I often give so that I don’t feel guilty about not giving. I am still seeking to please myself. Am I giving out of my abundance, out of my leftovers, or am I giving from what I wanted to spend on myself? “I can only give this much. Then I’ll have enough to still do what I want to do.”
Giving is much more than an act of kindness. It is an act of faith. An act of trusting God. “Give and it will be given to you.” “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
