The Crutch part 5
I wasn't sure if I was going to go here to end this Rant, but no matter what I try to follow where the Spirit leads. So. The interesting thing about helping others... about releasing what we've received... is that BY helping others we really help OURSELVES. Because the truth of the matter is, we're all in this together. We are different parts of the same body. When our neighbor does well, so do we. But this is a very UN-carnal mindset. Because the carnal mind says, "If I make you look worse, I'll look better by comparision." The way of the world, if I can say it that way, is to get higher by climbing over others. And I'm not saying you don't learn from those who came before you. I'm not saying you shouldn't stand on the shoulders of giants in order to see further than you could on your own. I'm saying you don't have to knock those giants down in order to look like a giant yourself. I'm saying, when we're talking about God (or love) as a crutch... when it comes right down to it we're all in the same boat. We all need a crutch. We all need each other. In Song of Solomon 5:16 the man (or Jesus) is referred to as "altogether lovely." And one day God quickened something to me. If something is true, the reverse is also often true. For example, Acts 17:28 says, "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring." In Him we live, and move, and have our being. That's true. And the reverse is also true. In US He lives, and moves, and has HIS being. So if He is altogher lovely... that means He is lovely all together. When WE are all together. Because we are He. We are His body. As He is, so are we in this world. Psalm 133:1 says it like this, "A song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Unity. Dwelling in unity means dwelling in love. The unity of love. The unity that IS love. We have to live together. With each other. No man is an island. It's not good that man should be alone. And watch this: When I help you stand--as a crutch--and you help me stand... neither one of us has to stand alone. Helping you HELPS ME. I've never felt love so clearly as when I was loving someone else. That's why when I talk about receiving and releasing I always try to point out that the best way to receive is BY releasing. Because if you give what you've got that means you believe you have it. If you love someone, that means you know and believe that you are loved. Otherwise you couldn't do it. You can't give what you don't have. And you can only give what you do have. So instead of the "conventional thinking" that says, "I'll take care of me even if its at your expense," the love of God says, "I'll take care of you and in that way I won't even have to take care of myself!" By holding you up, being YOUR crutch, I have something to hold onto. I HAVE a crutch, and I AM a crutch!