Last night, we were having a bible study and our pastor was delivering a topic on offering your life to Christ. I noticed that each time the pastor mentioned the benefits of offering ones life to Christ, the audience glowed with a smile. This simple event triggered memories from the past and for some reason I saw the flaw that makes most Christians tired and fall.
I thought, how many people would volunteer for mission work without pay? And how many would volunteer for mission work with pay? How many people get excited on topics about wealth and get bored on topics about holiness, not to mention angered? Then another event in my life came to my mind and this happened just a few days ago. There was a beggar who asked me for 2 pesos and I automatically answered, without even thinking, wala po (I have none).
How many of us would easily spend 5000 pesos (about $100) in shopping for clothes and find it hard to give a small amount to a beggar? In fact to some, it is not finding it hard that matters. Rather, most of us just don’t see the need to give to others. How many of us would gladly sit beside the president and hesitate to sit beside a leper? What drives us to do these things?
I think I know and you know the answer. It’s called BENEFITS. It is easy to do something if we benefit from it and hard to do something if we get none. Why do people among all religions desire to follow the teachings of their faith? I’m not just talking about Christianity here. I’m talking of all religions? In every religion, there’s always a promise of something eternal. It could be eternal life, eternal glory, attaining nirvana, etc. But take away these promises and you will see the population of these religions drop to a very few.
In our church, each time the pastor makes a challenge, there is always a benefit behind it. After all, who would take the challenge for nothing? Maybe a few, perhaps even none. And so I continued thinking.
Is it really the love for God that drives us to do good? Or is it the saying that “what you plant is what you shall reap” as well as “do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you?” If God were just another human being with no promises at hand, would we still follow him? I think a lot of us won’t because it’s simply absurd to do so.
What do you think?
July 15th, 2006 at 3:54 am
Here’s what I think, There are lots of promises written in the bible, and those promises are for those who follow him and love him. Those are not benefits but rewards, but it is only for those who freely follow the Lord. You are right on saying that it is not about ‘benefits’. But God chooses to bless people who love Him with all their hearts. Loving the Lord is not just giving, but also receiving
July 15th, 2006 at 5:01 am
It is truly pitiful if not pathetic these so called “Christians” today specifically those led by preachers who dare call themselves “Pastors” and yet does not understand the very things they preached. These gullible people are recruited by “pastors” not to become “christians” ( i really hate to call them so) but to become clueless themselves.
Benefits? yes, people are gullible for benefits. They would raised up their hands in a gathering, invert their umbrellas when rainfalls, jump 3 times for the “lord”, raised up their wallets and passports so that “god” may reached it (what on earth!), closed their eyes and visualize a mercedes benz, etc. for the sake of “blessings” and these list is just a tip of the iceberg. All these are thru the leading of their “pastors” or religious leaders or better yet CLOWNS.
Funny? yes, but it is the truth.
Again, and I say again, benefits? well, if your religion is built on benefits and does not practice (yes, practice and not only teach) giving especially to the needy is definitely a worthless and oppressive religion.
Now, it may sound rationale and human to say and believe that no one would follow God if he is just another human being with no promise at hand to offer. The question is HOW well you know your God?
If somebody just loves anybody for the sake of promises and benefits, then I say that that person is miserable and pathetic.
To love God is to do what pleases Him. I guess you just don’t love your wife/girlfriend for the promise that she’ll take care of you?
So, you want to know more about God? (btw, I am referring to the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob).
Seek and ye shall find!
God Bless!