Have you ever been doing something that you were asked (or told) to do, and wondered, “Would the person who gave me this work (whether a parent, manager, teacher, or other role) be willing to do it themselves?” I have been privileged to do things for others that I know would get right down in the dirt (whether physical or metaphorical) and help with the very same work. In fact, sometimes they have done so.
On the other hand, there are those who delegate tasks to me that they can’t do themselves, and that’s not inherently a bad thing, either. We all have our part to play on a team, and as long as the leader isn’t just passing off all of the hard work, I don’t mind helping out.
(I’ll let you imagine examples of the “other” kind of leader: one who gives the unpleasant work to others, and just steps in with a shovel when the cameras show up.)
The Bible often makes similar points in different books, whether in different times, to different people, or just said in different ways. Like Hosea 6:6 (reviewed in the previous article), portions of Micah 6:8 (see below) are also quoted sometimes. This larger passage from Micah fits in with the previous point from Hosea, though.
With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:6-8 NIV
This passage starts with some rhetorical questions, (potentially?) exaggerating how much someone might sacrifice to God. I think that a past article explained how the firstborn of both people and livestock belonged to God. While the Law of Moses provided a means of redeeming certain firstborn offspring (including firstborn sons), I think of Hannah giving her firstborn son (Samuel) for a lifetime of service to God, so giving one’s firstborn to God is a real thing. Still, even sacrifices like that could be given without having a heart that is actually serious about living for God.
Conversely, verse 8 provides us with what God has identified as the right thing to do, instead: In the NIV, this is justice, mercy, and humility (or walking “prudently”). Similarly, in the NASB, this is justice, kindness (or loyalty, as was mentioned in the previous article from Hosea), and humility (or walking “circumspectly”).
God’s anger, wrath, and justice are appropriate responses to sinful human behavior, but these attributes of God are also complemented by His mercy and restoration. And, as God has done for us, so we should be willing to do for others. Of course, we’re not God, so we can’t save people from their sins, but we can discipline – in love – those whom God has given us authority over, and we can be sure to extend grace and mercy to those who have sinned against us (even if they don’t deserve it, since we didn’t deserve God’s grace and mercy, ourselves).
At the same time, we must be completely “sold out” to only God as our Lord. Now, some people use the term “sell-out” to describe a traitor, but our being “sold out” to God is the exact opposite. He redeemed us at a great cost to Himself and we belong to Him, so we try to live up to that great act of love by drawing closer to Him and trusting Him to guide our actions.
When studying from the book of James in my men’s group, we talked about how people can be “double-minded” (see James 4:8), which I interpreted as trying to follow both God and the world. That didn’t work for the Israelites, it didn’t work in James’ day, and it doesn’t work for us today.
So, don’t perceive justice, mercy, and humility towards others as mere commands from God. Consider them as opportunities to emulate characteristics of God that He has already extended towards us. Other than a few roles where God’s sovereignty and perfection precludes Him from activities that are endemic to human beings that He created, I don’t think that He asks us to do anything that He hasn’t already done Himself…and probably a million times more than we will ever achieve.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for March 12, 2023
References:
- The Lookout, March 12, 2023, © 2022 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Minor Prophets Volume 1 – Hosea-Micah, by Harold Shank. © 2001 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 