Sermon on the Mount

After looking through the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) today, I came to realize that Jesus is calling us to pretty radical way of living. First of all, be salt and light - be useful and don't just sit back and be like everyone else. As he talks about murder and adultery, he tells us to fight our natural urges and to discipline ourselves to do the opposite. Instead of doing what we'd like to do to our enemies to get them back, do something nice. He also talks about keeping from bragging about our good deeds and criticizing others. And he says to not worry about getting the things you need, but to just trust and ask God for them.

Doesn't all this go against our natural instincts? Our natural way is to act based on our emotions. If we're tired, we sleep. If we're mad, we say something mean or hit someone. If we're proud of ourselves, we brag about it to everyone. If we don't like someone, we are either rude to them or avoid them. If we feel tension or encounter too many challenges, we give up and leave. If we see something/someone we want, we chase it, no matter what consequences it brings about. If we are worried about providing for our needs, we do as much as possible to ensure we get what we need.

And the easiest of all things is to do what everyone else is doing. The status quo is comfortable. But nothing is accomplished or proven with the status quo.

We've been talking about this concept in relation to our business as well as spirituality. Because both have much to do with our attitude and mindset. If we don't discipline ourselves and train ourselves to go against the grain of our instincts, we will settle into that status quo. It's uncomfortable and challenging, but it's the only way to overcome the mundane and get to that fullness of life that Jesus refers to.

In essence, Jesus is saying: Don't let emotions rule your lives. Train yourself to respond instead of react. Don't do the first thing that comes to mind (or heart, really), but learn to choose the better way.

Matthew 5:48a in The Message: "In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it."

It won't be easy, but until we get there, we won't know what we're missing out on.