"What About Bob" is one of my all-time favorite movies. In this flick, Bill Murray plays the role of a guy who drives his psychiatrist insane. Bob was a pain. He was annoying… He was familiar. Most of us have a "Bob" in our life, and (s)he drives us crazy!
"Bobs" can come in various forms:
- Some are enemies who watch your every move looking for a way to nail you.
- Some are friends who abuse your relationship and mistreat you.
- Some are needy people who never seem to get enough of you.
Whatever the situation, the "Bobs" will prove themselves to be both annoying and challenging. So what do you do?
Two thousand years ago, a great Teacher was speaking to a crowd. That crowd was made up of people like you and me.
They were people who struggled with relationships. They were people who had "Bobs" in their life. They had enemies. They had abusive relationships. They had acquaintances that seemed to drain the life out of them.
And they had a question: "What do you do with people like this? What do you do with 'Bob'?"
Listen to what the Teacher said:
"To you who are ready for the truth I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
"Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.
"I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never-I promise-regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.
"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults-unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back-given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."
Luke 6:27-38 from The Message
Wow! That is tough stuff!
Love our enemies? Do good to those who mistreat us? Give to those who never seem to get enough? How could we possibly do this?
It goes against everything that our instincts tell us to do! We want to fight the enemy. Get revenge for mistreatments. And get rid of the needy whiners. What is this Teacher talking about? We are just as surprised as the crowds were 2000 years ago.
The Teacher shocks us. He leaves us reeling. But He does not leave us helpless.
The Teacher's name is Jesus.
>>Continue: Who is this Jesus? And who are the real "Bobs"? >> 1.2
Related reading:
