Sunday, August 14, 2011

With thathe turned and went back into the house

At the beginning of a new school year, the old man changed his strategy. As expected, the boysstopped by the old man's house and called him names. This time though, the old man cameout and waved hello to the boys from the porch. The old man then said: "If you boys willcome back tomorrow and yell at me some more, I will give each of you one dollar." With thathe turned and went back into the house.

The next day the boys returned and fulfilled the man's wishes. True to his word, the old mancame out and gave each of the boys one dollar. He waved to the group and said, "See you omorrow." Tomorrow came and so did the boys. After the boys had yelled and taunted theoldman, the old man came out and said, "I cannot pay you a dollar anymore, for all I have is a quarter for each of you. Please come back tomorrow." The next day the boys, again, yelled and taunted the old man. The old man came out and said, "I can only pay each of you a dime, for I am nearly out of money."

With this, the leader of the group of boys said: "A dime? It's not worth it. Let's go guys." Theboys left and never bothered the old man again. When the evil one (poneros) does not getthe desired result, his behavior changes. Let's now look at what it means to go "the extra mile." Let's consider the laborer who is required to work eight hours, but routinely works ninehours without request for more pay. Should the leader be expected to pay without beingasked? If the leader is required to pay for eight hours of work, but instead pays for nine,should the worker come to expect that generosity? When we live by law, we also workandpay by law.

This is the great sin of the economic world that Adam Smith laid out for usin his work TheWealth of Nations. Smith's call was for each person to pay as little as possible for as much gain aspossible. This has become the great mantra of capitalism, but of course, it is incorrect. Thegreatest gains come from the greatest commitment of workers and followers, not by payingthem as little as possible. Carnegie is credited with giving away 90 percent of his income near the end of his life and supporting all of the people that he could. He was quoted as sayingthat his gain came from what he gave, not from what he made. I agree that there arepeople who will take advantage of others who are so generous, but no leader is required tokeep and build relationships with those who would do harm. The goal of agapao leadership issimilar to the goal of transformational leadership in that both leader and follower seek to lift theother to higher levels. Like Carnegie, leaders .

I treat this passage separately because so many people see this as a separate concept from the"Law of Revenge" that we just discussed. I also treat this passage separately because it is atthis point that I part from the thinking of other writers (Augsburger, 1982, Lloyd-Jones, 1962,Govett, 1984, Eddleman, 1955). I do agree with these other writers that this passage is a continuation of the previous and that you will more fully understand by reading the two as onelong thought (Matthew 5:36-48). To set the stage for my explanation of this passage,considerthe following facts from Scripture. God already set the rule of loving yourneighbor in the Old Testament. Jesus said this was the second greatest commandment. Asa result, the Israelites were supposed to treat each other well and to not charge excessive interest,or to deny the wants of another. The Old Testament also held strong language


This is why Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan, told in Luke 10:30-37, is such a shock to thePharisee's question regarding just who is "a neighbor." Jesus intentionally uses a Samaritan,a person that most Israelites would have described as an enemy, to be the neighborin His story. The thieves were not neighbors, the priest was not a neighbor, but the one to whom most Jews would not have given the time of day, was the neighbor. Let me digress for a moment. The Winston family (the branch from which I am descended) settled in what is nowsouthern Virginia and northern North Carolina during the 1670s. In the late 1990s, I met myfather's cousin who still lived in northern North Carolina.

During our visit, she recalled aconversation that she had with her greatgrandmotherin the early 1920s. My father'scousin was beginningto date and her great-grandmotherwanted to give her
someadvice, and this is what she said, "Stayaway fromthoseVirginia boys because you know what they are like!"has changed since the time that Jesus spoke the Sermon on the Mount! Many people see this passage as Jesus advocating a pacifist lifestyle. But this wholetreatise, so far, has been to show the Israelites how they misunderstood God's laws. God commanded people to love their neighbor. Jesus showed the Jewish crowd that the spirit of thislaw abides in the heart. To hate someone whom you do not know, and who has committed noviolation against you is simply wrong. Today, we call it bigotry.

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