Do More
Whatever you are doing that is right and good, do more of it!
Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved, to do so more and more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, so that you may behave properly towards outsiders and be dependent on no one. - 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
In today's reading, we have a compliment. You are doing the right things by loving each other. Then it is followed by a request. You should do more of that.
The advice doesn't end there. Mind your own business. Keep yourself occupied. Be dependent on no one. Behave properly toward outsiders.
So long as others do the same, this isn't hard. What's difficult is to keep being and doing good while being harassed and bullied.
It is easy to justify taking action in defense of self, ignoring the advice to be good and keep to oneself. And this is where the "Do More" approach comes into play.
It is when we make ourselves dependent upon others for our self-image that we get into trouble. Who wants to hear people saying bad things about them?
It will happen though, because there will always be those who are dependent on us for their value.
Jesus understood the dynamic of power. When he called people hypocrites, the power shifted from hm to them, but when he told parables that helped them see their own hypocrisies, the power stayed in his hands.
When we let others rattle us from our foundations, we lose. We need to uncouple our need for their approval from our mission to do and be good. This, I think, is where the lessons from childhood come into play.
Mind your own business. Keep your hands to yourself. Just ignore him.
As we make room in our hearts for the coming of Christ at Christmas, we should also make room there for all who seek to gain power at our expense, all who want to shake us loose from our convictions and beliefs, all who seek to show us we aren't as good as we think we are.
Let us pray for them and for us. We all need to feel we are loved and valued. Of all the things that can cause wounds, only love heals.
Practice love. Do good. Do more.
More to come...