BEING MORE
Denise Linton
Today's Scripture: "And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!" Luke 6:33, ESV
Theme: This Christmas season, do good for those who can't or won't do good things for you or yours.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
In my sociology classes in recent weeks, we have been discussing the term “Homophily” and the effects it has on society. Homophily literally means “love of sameness” and is a sociological theory describing the tendency of individuals to associate and bond with similar others. Sharing common characteristics such as beliefs, values, age, socioeconomic status. etc., makes relationship formation easier. It’s the old proverb’s idea of “birds of a feather flock together.”
SEPARATED
The negative effect of homophily is that it limits people's social worlds in ways that have powerful implications for the information they receive, the attitudes they form, and the interactions they experience. This continued behavior keeps our society separated. It forces less unhealthy individuals to interact primarily with one another, thereby excluding them from interactions with healthier individuals.
JESUS BEFORE SOCIOLOGY
Even though sociologist Robert Merton was credited with the theory of homophily back in 1959, Jesus recognized this behavior in our society thousands of years before the field of sociology was ever created. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus called us out about how we tend to stick together. Jesus basically asked, “If you love those who love you--if you do good only for those who do good for you, how are you any different from the rest of society?” God does not want us to be like the rest of society: separated, comfortable, normal. He wants us to step out to help those who cannot or will not help us.
GAS MONEY
Several years ago, when I was the manager of a gas station, I had a gentleman tell me that he had run out of gas but had no money to fill up his car. He said he would come back and pay me back later. I was pretty sure that he wouldn’t be back, and I was not really wanting to help this guy. But God had a different plan, so I was reluctantly obedient and paid for his car to be filled up. I did tell the man that it was not my idea, but God speaking to me. He never came back. But then about a month ago, I was pumping gas at that same gas station, when a man approached me from another pump and asked me if I remembered him. He told me that I had been so kind several years ago and paid for his gas when he had no money. He thanked me again for being so generous on that day.
HETEROPHILY
Heterophily, or “love of the different,” is the tendency of individuals to seek out those who are different. It is the opposite of homophily. Jesus would refer to this as “loving your enemies,” “loving those who do not love you back,” “doing good for those who can’t love you,” “loving those who are different.”
Let’s go back to the sociological theory for a moment, but this time looking at it through God’s eyes. If people are only experiencing the normal interactions of helping those who can help them, how will they ever see the power of God’s love? The opportunity to change the information they receive, the interactions they experience, and the beliefs that they form lies in “loving others.” As I drove away from the gas pump that day, I realized that God had given me this opportunity to remind me: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” John 13:35 (ESV).
When God provided a way to Himself through His Son, God knew we could never pay Him back. Yet, He gave us Jesus so that we could know His love and spend eternity with Him. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV).
Make It Personal: This week, find opportunities to do good for others. Some ideas are a gift card to the neighbor that never smiles or says hello; flowers to brighten up the day of a resident at the nursing home; pay for the groceries of the person in front of you. But don’t stop after the Christmas season. Continue to find ways to love “the different” or “the other.”
Pray: Father, as we celebrate the meaning of this season, I want to thank You for the gift of your Son, even though You knew we did not deserve it, nor could we ever pay You back for this great Gift. I pray for the opportunity to show Your love to those who so desperately need You. Let me be a disciple for You and share the Good News of this Christmas season: that You sent Your only Son so we would not perish. Amen.
Read: John 3:16; Ephesians 2:4-9; John 13:35
Weekly Memory Verse: “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-9 (NLT)