Feed Them part 3
When Simon Peter was given a chance to redeem himself (in a sense) after denying Jesus, Jesus didn't just ask for verbal confirmation of Peter's love. He showed Peter HOW to love. He told Peter to feed His lambs, and His sheep. Because whatever you do unto the least of them, you do unto the Lord. You love God BY loving people. And, quick aside, that's why it drives me crazy when I see people neglect people so that they can "be closer to God." There's nothing closer to God than the people He has chosen to live in. There's no way to be closer to Him than to be close to each other. 1 John 4:20 says it like this, "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" We were given the abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life of God so that we could live it. So that we could experience it as HE lives His own life in us, and through us, and as us. We were given this life of love so that we could live BY loving. That's how WE feed ourselves--or encourage, or strengthen, ourselves in the inner man... in the Lord--and that's how we feed each other. We receive the gift of God, and we release it. We share it. We give it away. But here's the question: What happens if you feed someone, and they never stop eating? What if you give, and they never stop taking? This can be a tricky situation. Because we are called to love without question. Without fear or reservation. Without condition, or judgment. But that opens us up to situations where people can (and will) take advantage of us. And all I can say is: Do your best and forget the rest. Love is giving everything you are and everything you have no matter what the outcome is. Even though sometimes it seems like the more you love, the less you are loved. I said it "seems" like the more you love the less you are loved, because the truth of the matter is that you're heavenly Father always has and always will love you. We love because He first loved us. He gave us what we needed so that we could give others what they need. And that love can never run out (sometimes we need to feed ourselves, or remind ourselves, that we are loved. And in that way if feels like we're replenishing the stock, so to speak. But love never fails. It (HE) never runs out). The trick, I guess, is having wisdom. Because you can (and really should) love everybody. But you can't help everybody. And if you're at all concerned about matters of the heart, you're going to try to help people no matter what. So I say, if someone takes advantage of you... love them anyway. But don't stay in a bad situation. Once you've given it all you've got... its either enough, or its not. And either way you've done what you can do. Its ok to say no. Its ok to admit that there are some things you CAN do, and some things you CAN'T do. Some people you CAN help, and some people you CAN'T. Just in the same way that there are different ways to feed people... there are different people who can feed different people. I love everybody, but that doesn't mean that everybody is my best friend. Some people you connect with, and some people you don't. Square pegs don't fit into round holes. Now, if one of those people that I don't necessarily connect with asked me for help, I would help them if I could. But I would also try to know my own limits. People like different kinds of food. People have different needs. And I can't meet them all. So do what you can, but don't try to do it all!