1.2 Love God
1.2 to take the advantage over another or not.
This free choice is the only thing morality is concerned with, to put your advantage first or to put your advantage last.
Key Scriptures:
-Luke 6:38
-John 15:7
-Rom. 2:8
-1Cor. 13:5
-Matt. 20:16
-Luke 7:28
-Luke 14:27
“It’s not just a sandwich.”
“To put your own advantage first or to put it last.”
C.S. Lewis has said, “This free choice is the only thing morality is concerned with.”
I think C.S. Lewis is right, this is the basic building block that all of our choices hinge off of. Even the simple event of sharing a sandwich with a friend is rooted deeply in this concept.
For example: When a sandwich is cut in half and a person is giving half away to a friend, certain mental and emotional processes take place.
First, both pieces are studied to figure out which piece is larger and which piece is smaller. I think this tendency to look at the pieces before we offer half to the other person is very telling and points to the self centered nature of all humans. (It is important to learn to not stare at the sandwich, or you may find yourself starring at the sandwich, or someone’s advantage for the rest of your life. Don’t spend the rest of your life starring at a sandwich.)
For some it is important to determine this to keep the larger for one's self. For others, the opposite would be true. For the persons who choose to take the larger piece for themselves, I think it would be safe to say, they have chosen to "put their own advantage first.”
At this point, my next question would be: When did they make this choice, a week ago, a month ago, or years ago, or at birth? Or was the decision impulse – simply saying to one's self “It’s just a sandwich.” Is there a reason to put your advantage last? Why is it important to learn to take the small piece for yourself, even if the other person does not know or even care?
One reason is this is the first step to choosing to not be self centered. And there are some very good reasons to not be self centered. Even though the human tendency is to be self centered or “to put your own advantage first,” there are some good reasons to learn to put your advantage last. I am suggesting this is a mindset worthy of intentional effort.
If this is true, then learning how to give your advantage away becomes an important part of the maturation process. If you are committed to growing up and being a healthy functioning adult you will be committed to some form of selflessness.
or...
Test your knowledge, answer the questions below. Use the comments box to check for understanding...
1.21. What does it mean to use your free choice to allow your advantage to be last? 2. What is the connection between choosing Christ as our lord and savior and giving up your advantage? 3. As a Christian who are you supposed to give your advantage up to you? 4. What does it mean to stare at the sandwich? 5. As a Christian what should our gaze be fixed upon? |
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