Are you kidding me??? We are supposed to be HAPPY when we are: poor, mourning, meek, hungry, needing mercy, insulted….. seriously?
That does seem to be Jesus’ theme on the Sermon on the Mount, but it seems so opposite to this world. Maybe even counterintuitive… What does that mean? Counterintuitive is defined as contrary to what intuition or common sense would indicate.
It seems so backwards, but isn’t that the way God works. Let’s look at some of the Bible’s examples: whoever wants to find his life must lose it, when someone hits you turn the other cheek, Jesus gives us life through His death. Yep, pretty backwards!
Looking at Matthew 5 and 6 through Jesus' counterintuitive lens brings this thought to mind. What is the motivation for what I do?
Click on this link to read Matthew 6:1-6.
Who is our audience? Who are we trying to please?
Click on this link to read Matthew 6:16-21.
Who am I trying to impress here on earth? Should my motivation be for others to see my good? If others see my deeds, where is my reward?
Often when I read the words of God, I am realigned to how I should think and live. It is as if the worldly scales fall from my eyes and I see life like God sees life.
Unfortunately, my view of life sometimes is one of trying to please people on this earth and to make them think I am amazing. This worldly motivation of people pleasing, as Bill Hybels puts it, is a dead-end street that leads to anxiety, confusion, and bondage. But God-pleasing is the path to peace, fulfillment, and true liberation.
I need to be more counterintuitive! How about you?
Brad Childers
February 16
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Thank you, Brad. I am often guilty of trying to be amazing to others instead of being amazing to God.
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