Be The Better Person

One of the strengths of the life Jesus wanted for His followers is that we would be better people and happier people if we lived this way. The pushback is that we have to give up some of our own freedom in the process. This is both true and misleading. Limiting our exercise of freedoms that are destructive and harmful is technically limitation. But limiting something that is destructive and harmful is generally regarded as prudent and helpful: It’s why there are fences and barbed wire around electrical transfer stations because the risk of being near them is very high (and in theory it’s why Canadians can’t go camping, the risk they pose to nature is too high).

The notion that any and all limitations to our personal freedom are a bad thing and we should be free to exercise our basest passions and desires comes straight from the Garden of Eden playbook where Eve was told that God was restricting her freedom with His one rule.

Absolute moral freedom would be ruinous, destructive, and harmful: the human heart can be a pretty dark place. We see it every day when we read the news or just look at the diminished world around us.

Jesus knows a better way to live. He taught His followers a better way to live. The fact that so many Christians live lives that are little better or little differentiated from their unbelieving counterparts is a witness to the fact that we’re not paying attention.

Our lives are complex, multi-faceted affairs that seem to have no limit on the ways in which they can be messy. In His manifesto, Jesus necessarily addressed a wide array of topics because they He was addressing us and our lives.

As we return to Matthew 5, we consolidate where we can. Honestly, we could spend an entire sermon on each topic and still might not do them all justice. Jesus did not do this: He quickly hit topics and then moved on to others.

Even in a brief handling of topics, however, He is able to provide directions that would make His followers the better person in life. That is something that we really want. I don’t think most people wake up each day asking how they can be petty, small-minded, annoying, pariahs. They just end up there because they never limit any impulse. Better people exercise both self-awareness and self-management.

Speak Plainly, 5:33-37

Matthew 5:33–37 NKJV

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Disingenuous language

How many times have you heard someone, maybe yourself, say, “I swear if you don’t blank, I’m going to blank!”

Do they mean it? No. Would they really do it? No. Then why say it?

Diminishing language

We swear casually as though that somehow increases the power of our words. It doesn’t. Instead, it actually diminishes the value and impact of our words.

We don’t have the power (or intention) to carry out our vow

We don’t have the control of much that we vow about

We don’t want to be “on the hook” with God. He does not take our swearing lightly.

Destructive language

Deuteronomy 23:21–23 NKJV

21 “When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. 22 But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you. 23 That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.

What does Jesus suggest for His followers? Simple, plain, direct words. Honest, calm communication goes a lot further than grandiose, emotionally-enflamed, ultimately hollow declarations.

Live Freely, 5:38-42

This follows Jesus instruction not to express anger without cause in verse 22. “Cause” in Jesus’ instruction was a legal or moral cause. The fact that you are robbed of personal glory is not cause. And yet it is the cause of most of our anger.

Matthew 5:38–42 NKJV

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

An eye for an eye…

This instruction, found in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy was analogous to sentencing guidelines in Israel’s national justice system. It was not an instruction given to individuals to carry out. it was an instruction on how punishment was to be carried out after someone had been found guilty of a crime.

Resistance is futile

“don’t resist an evil person” is counter-intuitive. But we will find that if we stop fighting we will have personal peace, which is worth more than the inconvenience of whatever slight we are “suffering” costs.

Don’t be stupid

The pushback here is that Jesus is somehow telling us to be so passive that we just let people kill us and destroy us. He didn’t say that. None of the specific instances He mentions are anything more than minor nuisances. Yes, they steal our personal glory and we are tempted to respond. But that response can only escalate the hostility in the situation and increase our stress while simultaneously decreasing our peace and joy.

If you find yourself in real danger, run away…

Love Widely, 5:43-48

The command in Leviticus 19:18 is actually to love your neighbor as yourself. The man-made corollary (the it was said part) was that you could hate your enemies. God never said that.

Matthew 5:43–48 NKJV

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Related to Live Freely

Stoking and exercising our anger makes the experience of our life worse. Don’t choose it.

Reflecting God to people

God could be petty and judge everyone all the time for every little thing…He is offended way more than we are.

Instead, He bears it…for now.

Realizing true gains

There is a reward for us when we reflect God to people

part of that reward is received in a peaceful, less stressful life that is genuinely better lived.

part of that reward is received at the hand of God who rewards good behavior

Help Quietly, 6:1-4

and speaking of being a better person and receiving a better reward…

Matthew 6:1–4 NKJV

1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

In an effort to help you think of them as good people, many people will tell you just how good they are and how much good they do.

It is wearisome…

Don’t be that guy.

Love in action

Jesus said love freely. This follows that. Charity is love in action. Love must be demonstrated, and charity is the demonstration of love.

The Choice is yours

The good news is that love in action comes with a reward.

If you trumpet your deeds, people will reward you with complimentary words

If you temper your bragging, God will reward you with complimentary gifts

As a side note, the quieter, less braggadocios life, makes for a better life experience

Conclusion

At the end of the day, when we push back against Jesus’ teaching, all we do is demonstrate how far our heart is from His. While it is seldom easy to be the better person, it is alway better. It is the better life experience for us and it makes us the kind of people other people actually want to be around.

Being the better person reflects God to people, and it opens opportunities to direct people to God.

Being the better person the way Jesus directs can only truly flow from a heart that has been changed by Him when it is save. Sure some of this can be exercised by anyone. But only the redeemed heart can exercise it fully.