According to Mosaic law, were someone to wrong you, the exchange, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" was appropriate. With an unjust act, they followed the laws of physics and found a consequence that was equal and opposite. This was considered fair, so there are quite a few stories of people being killed in the Old Testament because that was the culture; that was the law. It is not much like our civil governments today, except instead of cutting our fingers off or beheading our chickens, they charge us money and jail time is often included.
When Christ taught and served over 2000 years ago, he introduced to everyone a new commandment. We know it as the "higher law". "A new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another..." (John 13:34) This rattled a few cages. The Jews were probably afraid that he was trying to take everyone's focus off of God and direct it more to men, but really he was specifying the law, and consequently intensifying it. Before, they felt justified in perhaps not being completely honest or kind to others because it wasn't included in Moses' 10 commandments or their new oral law the leaders created. But now Christ had taken away their loopholes and was condemning their false doctrine, infuriating the leaders at the time.
It's said that the Jews loved Moses so much because he was dead. He couldn't tell them they were doing it wrong. Very few accept a prophet during his ministry. It's after he's died and his prophecies are fulfilled that the next generation realizes that he was right. Christ had come to prophecy, to atone, and to teach. He taught of this high road and of charity. He stressed the importance of loving and serving God, but at the same time expressed and illustrated the deep need to love and serve those around us just as much. In Moroni chapter 7, he copies down some of the words his father Mormon gave in an address about faith, hope and charity. Faith is our relationship with God, hope involves anticipating our personal reward, but charity is serving others' needs. Throughout the chapter, we are instructed that if we are found without either of these in the last days, it will not be well with us. These three form a tripod that keeps us sturdy.
Charity is so hard. At first, you have to fake your love because the best way to achieve a goal is "fake it till you make it." But, over time, you don't have to force yourself anymore, and love becomes your driving motivation. The people you're serving become more important to you than the award or recognition that may or may not be awaiting.
As a missionary, I began my service because I had a testimony of the gospel and wanted to serve God, because I loved him and wanted to give back in some small way for all he had done to help me in my life. After time, that wasn't enough. Japanese was so hard to learn. The people were not interested in Christianity. I was big, white, and intimidating there. I would get so frustrated. Then I really found a love for the people in Japan. Their somewhat childish outlook on life, pure and innocent humor, and general hospitality touched my heart. My conversations began to change with them. Instead of rehearsed and calculated questions, I was getting to know them and trying to help them see how the gospel could guide their lives. I knew without a doubt that what I was telling them could help, so it hurt so much more when they rejected me. But because I began coming so much closer to all these people, it meant so much more to me when they would join us at church or finally start reading the Book of Mormon or someday be baptized. Love became my driving force, and then it wasn't work. I was making friends.
Revenge can be complicated, but it is always the easy way out. Seek for charity and humility. What goes around does not necessarily have to be sent back around by us. Higher roads are harder to take, but for your personal benefit and the benefit of your relationships, charity and humility is the better way. Everyone will enjoy you, and vengeful poison will not fester in your bowels.
Look to serve. Love everyone. Let it go.
It's said that the Jews loved Moses so much because he was dead. He couldn't tell them they were doing it wrong. Very few accept a prophet during his ministry. It's after he's died and his prophecies are fulfilled that the next generation realizes that he was right. Christ had come to prophecy, to atone, and to teach. He taught of this high road and of charity. He stressed the importance of loving and serving God, but at the same time expressed and illustrated the deep need to love and serve those around us just as much. In Moroni chapter 7, he copies down some of the words his father Mormon gave in an address about faith, hope and charity. Faith is our relationship with God, hope involves anticipating our personal reward, but charity is serving others' needs. Throughout the chapter, we are instructed that if we are found without either of these in the last days, it will not be well with us. These three form a tripod that keeps us sturdy.
Charity is so hard. At first, you have to fake your love because the best way to achieve a goal is "fake it till you make it." But, over time, you don't have to force yourself anymore, and love becomes your driving motivation. The people you're serving become more important to you than the award or recognition that may or may not be awaiting.
As a missionary, I began my service because I had a testimony of the gospel and wanted to serve God, because I loved him and wanted to give back in some small way for all he had done to help me in my life. After time, that wasn't enough. Japanese was so hard to learn. The people were not interested in Christianity. I was big, white, and intimidating there. I would get so frustrated. Then I really found a love for the people in Japan. Their somewhat childish outlook on life, pure and innocent humor, and general hospitality touched my heart. My conversations began to change with them. Instead of rehearsed and calculated questions, I was getting to know them and trying to help them see how the gospel could guide their lives. I knew without a doubt that what I was telling them could help, so it hurt so much more when they rejected me. But because I began coming so much closer to all these people, it meant so much more to me when they would join us at church or finally start reading the Book of Mormon or someday be baptized. Love became my driving force, and then it wasn't work. I was making friends.
Revenge can be complicated, but it is always the easy way out. Seek for charity and humility. What goes around does not necessarily have to be sent back around by us. Higher roads are harder to take, but for your personal benefit and the benefit of your relationships, charity and humility is the better way. Everyone will enjoy you, and vengeful poison will not fester in your bowels.
Look to serve. Love everyone. Let it go.
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