"And now, my brethren, I have spoken unto you concerning pride; and those of you which have afflicted your neighbor, and persecuted him because ye were proud in your hearts, of the things which God hath given you, what say ye of it?
Do ye not suppose that such things are abominable unto him who created all flesh? And the one being is as precious in his sight as the other. And all flesh is of the dust; and for the selfsame end hath he created them, that they should keep his commandments and glorify him forever."
Jacob 2:20-21
Always a good reminder that we need to beware of pride. It's easy to start thinking that we're better than other people because of what we have, or to think that because we worked for something that we're somehow above someone who hasn't (in our view) worked for the same thing. We forget sometimes, not only that there are a variety of circumstances where people don't have the same opportunities that we do, but also that (in terms of that parable of the talents), having 10 talents didn't make one person better than the person with 5, or even better than the person with one. What mattered in that parable, and what matters in our lives, is doing the best we can with what we do have.
"The one being is as precious in his sight as the other." This is true across racial boundaries, across national boundaries, and doesn't change with citizenship status. Poor people, whether or not they are to "blame" for their own poverty, are all just as precious in God's sight as rich people. Muslims are as precious as Mormons. God loves Democrats, Republicans, Socialists, Communists, and even Fascists... and he loves all of us *equally.* God loves both men and women. He loves us whether or not we have mental or physical impediments.
We're all made from the same dust. :) Let's remember that we're also all God's children, that he loves us all so, so much. Today, let's work on letting go of our superiority complexes. Let's see the people around us that are in need and let's do something about it. Let's remember that they are our family, and our neighbors--all of them, and that the way we treat them counts just like we were treating God that way, because they are his children. Let's lift each other up instead of stepping on each other. Let's love and give and offer kindness, compassion, and respect to everyone.
Do ye not suppose that such things are abominable unto him who created all flesh? And the one being is as precious in his sight as the other. And all flesh is of the dust; and for the selfsame end hath he created them, that they should keep his commandments and glorify him forever."
Jacob 2:20-21
Always a good reminder that we need to beware of pride. It's easy to start thinking that we're better than other people because of what we have, or to think that because we worked for something that we're somehow above someone who hasn't (in our view) worked for the same thing. We forget sometimes, not only that there are a variety of circumstances where people don't have the same opportunities that we do, but also that (in terms of that parable of the talents), having 10 talents didn't make one person better than the person with 5, or even better than the person with one. What mattered in that parable, and what matters in our lives, is doing the best we can with what we do have.
"The one being is as precious in his sight as the other." This is true across racial boundaries, across national boundaries, and doesn't change with citizenship status. Poor people, whether or not they are to "blame" for their own poverty, are all just as precious in God's sight as rich people. Muslims are as precious as Mormons. God loves Democrats, Republicans, Socialists, Communists, and even Fascists... and he loves all of us *equally.* God loves both men and women. He loves us whether or not we have mental or physical impediments.
We're all made from the same dust. :) Let's remember that we're also all God's children, that he loves us all so, so much. Today, let's work on letting go of our superiority complexes. Let's see the people around us that are in need and let's do something about it. Let's remember that they are our family, and our neighbors--all of them, and that the way we treat them counts just like we were treating God that way, because they are his children. Let's lift each other up instead of stepping on each other. Let's love and give and offer kindness, compassion, and respect to everyone.
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