do I really have the right to have “rights”?
We have recently wrapped up a very busy traveling month for my husband.
He was gone for several stretches of time during three of the past four weeks. As we anticipated his return with much excitement around the house, my mind went to how his return would change my days.
Now that he was coming home, I could find some time to sew, maybe make progress in reading that book instead of falling asleep in it at night, maybe snag some catch up time with a friend who has been out of town.
My mind also drifted to how it would be a little easier at home. There would be an extra set of hands to help out at bedtime, and another “able-bodied” disciplinarian around to help keep our troops in line.
Are you getting the picture here?
My husband coming home, opened my mind wide to great expectations of how my life would change.
My life, not his life, not my children’s lives, but MY life. That is what my eyes were locked and focused on. Surely, after keeping things in order around the house (or at least attempting too) I deserve some time to do what I would like to do.
Sounds respectable, even “earned”, right?
Well, I guess if that was true, I wouldn’t be writing about it.
The world would tell me I deserve it. The world would look at me, offer sympathy and shout the “right” for my own time. The “right” to equal things out.
Does Scripture Back Me Up?
Wait a minute, but I don’t live for the world.
This world is not my home.
In fact 1 Pt. 2: 11-12 (The Message) completely refutes my previous thoughts. “Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.”
In fact, not only am I exhorted to not make this world my home, to not blend in with the world around me in my actions and words, but I am also called to live a life that shines for Jesus.
A life which stands so markedly different that my action actually serves to silence all of the world’s arguments and claims of hypocrisy against Christianity.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2: 3-4)
Right there…RIGHT THERE!
I really don’t need to look any further to see if I am “owed” anything.
I am commanded to place others before myself.
In fact, through this passage, scripture even offers me the opportunity to view this past week as an act of service to both my children and husband, and it compels me to choose to serve them moving forward.
Right Service but Wrong Heart
I can serve them, alright. I can serve them in a way that proclaims my service before them, or in a way that ensures it does not go unnoticed.
Does that make sense?
I can help them make breakfast, facilitate their schooling, and clean up the many messes throughout the day all while voicing my bad attitude and grumblings.
There are more times than I would like to admit that I land here, maybe not in the “voiced” frustrations, but in the hardness of my heart.
“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).
Jesus targets our heart. Out of our heart our mouth speaks. Can we truly be surprised with the words or tones that come out of our mouths? Scripture tells us they are simply the overflow of our hearts.
Jesus is Our Example
We are told to follow Jesus, to imitate Him (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Jesus is our ultimate example of how to live our lives.
Hear me though, sister.
We are not told to “try harder” to be like Jesus.
In fact, trying on our own is completely in vain. It will not last. It will bear no fruit. It will only completely drain us.
Becoming like our Savior flows from consistent time spent at His feet, in His Word, and communing with Him in prayer. It is a direct work of the Spirit, nothing we can fabricate on our own. I am preaching to myself so much in this!
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”( Philippians 2:5-11 )
We are told to have the mind of Christ.
He humbled Himself completely.
This humility led to His death, the end, the world would say. We as Believers disagree adamantly. His death led to His resurrection, and His resurrection proves His Godship; proves His victory over sin and death! His resurrection cements our hope in the future!
I am called to follow Him.
The Holy Spirit, in the lives of believers, enables us to do this.
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit-the Father will send Him in My name-will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” (John 14:26)
It seems it is not so much about “my right.” Jesus had all rights, as God, and yet He chose humility and obedience in following the will of the Father for His life. How much more should I lay down my rights, my life, to follow Him?
Jesus promises us that “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. “(Matthew 10:39).
Finding true life in Jesus? Yes, Lord, that is where I long to dwell. May we join together in this journey of laying down our rights, and being given something significantly better in exchange. Blessings!
