Each person was created to solve, as opposed to creating problems. While it is acknowledged, traditionally, that Satan is the cause of wickedness, we have to discover the actual compulsion towards sin. Human beings are associated with causing all problems, stocking the world. Yet the same human beings were created with the ability to solve problems?
Christian faith is engrossed more with encouraging people to have faith in Jesus. Instead of revealing the truth that human beings were created with abilities to solved problems. See [Believing in Jesus is different from having faith in Jesus].
Without appreciating what it means to be created in God’s image, global problems can never be solved. Only by first appreciating the characteristics of Godly nature, can one understand true Christianity; as implying taking full responsibility to solve problems.
Christian failures are a result of misunderstanding the meaning of humility, which is often wrongly associated with keeping a low profile in one’s environment. While there may be some truth in that stance, it carries another extreme, towards falsehood. Humility ought to be combined with the principle of responsibility.
About fifteen million Zimbabweans assume that it is rational to blame an over ninety-year-old man for causing the entire national problems. It seems everyone takes comfort in being incapacitated.
But that cannot be the case, if appreciating that everyone was created in God’s image. Everyone is, therefore, equipped with the attributes of ability to solve problems, one way or the other.
Humility ought to be understood in appreciating that every human being is valuable. A person who appreciates value in other people cannot allow anything harmful against them. Also, he/she cannot ill-treat people, but postulate ideas of providing them with best possible value addition.
In short, the only way to understand humility is to analyze the behavior of Jesus, who was a perfect example of how Christians ought to conduct themselves. Christ never turned down anyone in need of service, regardless of background.
Jesus was thronged by people from all walks of life. However, Christians do not necessarily have to perform miracles, like Jesus. The greatest miracle a Christian can ever perform is to unconditionally provide desirable service to others.
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27) (ESV).
It may be true that people want to see miracles before they can take you as a credible Christian. In order to acquire people’s approval, most Christian practitioners get obsessed with profiling their credentials. But all that is not what James says defines a religion that is pure and undefiled.
Humility does not seek acclaim, but uplifting other people’s interests than self. Humility focuses on one objective, and that is serving other people to the best of their interests; without seeking adulation from them.
However, I doubt that there can be any service that surpasses helping others to discover their own potential to also become valuable in society? Generosity is excellent, only when the benefactor is not treating beneficiaries as inferior.
Naturally, people want to give praises to charitable benefactors. This leads to such benefactors being trapped in assuming that they are superior to those being served; thereby, warming up to being worshiped?
However, after having acquired knowledge in that all human beings were created in God’s image, it is impossible to accept being worshiped by other people. This is why, at His trial, Jesus did not find it necessary to argue His case on the basis of having effectively served humanity in His three and a half year ministry.
Jesus’ only objective was to show us the true purpose of our having been created. The purpose was to solve people’s problems, without consideration of whether anyone appreciated such services or not.
That noble behavior was a perfect example for us all. Solving other people’s problems ought to be applied without consideration of whether other people appreciate our services or not. What is important is serving; to the best possible advantage of those being served.
In the current civilization, serving other people commonly catches the attention of superlative advantages, accruing to benevolent service providers? This is what has caused confusion; ever since Jesus left the scene. Such advantageous reality to charity providers is uncharacteristic of Jesus’ teachings:
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in Heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:1-4) (ESV).
When applying the above scripture, it cannot be possible for other people to be adulated, while others are despised. The disadvantaged ones begin to discover their own potential abilities to also serve. This is the new civilization that Jesus came to introduce. It is unfortunate that those, supposedly, entrusted with the dissemination of this information are trapped on misrepresenting it.
Instead of disseminating this information, Christian practitioners tell people that Jesus loves them, as having died for their sins on the cross. Those moved by Christ’s adorable services, feel indebted as to think more in terms of how they can effectively idolize Jesus. They do so, other than committing themselves to also fulfill what Jesus taught and demonstrated? (1 John 3:16).
While nothing appears wrong with idolizing Jesus, the unsolved problem remains in not discovering the purpose of one’s own creation. Jesus simply set an example, which all humans ought to emulate. Each person ought to know that he/she was created for the purpose of solving problems of humanity.
That responsibility has got nothing to do with whether other people are doing like-wise or not. Jesus was not so much bothered about there not having been many people appreciating the responsibility of unconditionally serving other people. He just served according to needs, at any given time.
Jesus was the first person known to ever initiate that way of behavior, which is not necessarily a religious practice, but a new civilization. While being the only answer to the problems of humanity, not many people accept it. Unfortunately, it cannot be a readily marketable philosophy. Jesus was murdered, for practicing it.
People do not believe in doing things for free. They find doing so being strange, just as they hardly appreciate that Jesus’ commitment to die for humanity was for free. On sending the twelve disciples, Jesus instructed them to:
“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8) (KJV). Obviously, this instruction does not make sense to those of this world?
Jesus’ principle of giving leaves no condition for whatever is given. Where one gives without expectation of receiving recompense; it is the Lord giving. In this world, no-one gives without expecting to receive anything in return.
To the seventy-two disciples, Jesus gave an instruction on how those disciples were to be sponsored in their mission:
“And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house” (Luke 10:5-7) (KJV).
The hospitable person described here is the ‘son of peace’ who does not provide such hospitality in anticipation of anything in return. The ‘son of peace’ resembles Jesus, who also gave without expecting anything in return.
Please, become conscious of the fact that the ‘son of peace’ is not granting hospitality, hoping to get anything in return. On arrival, the disciples, as ones to benefit from such hospitality, would have not even disclosed their mission, other than just offering peace to the host/hostess?
The principle of serving other people unconditionally is a Godly principle that cannot be commonly found in this world. It portrays the significance of humility. Only the sons of peace are capable of understanding that principle.
In our country, I have often observed effective advertising and meticulous logistical preparations for the highly profiled evangelical preachers. Such preparations provide opportunities for non-Christians to also take note of the forthcoming evangelistic crusades and attend in droves.
All this costs large sums of money through donors, who would already be in the system, aware of accruing Heavenly benefits. Sophisticated logistical preparations would be done ahead of such renowned Evangelists’ arrival.
The only observable hitch is that the methodology used does not synchronize with the teaching of Jesus, who is the way, the truth and the life? (John 14:6). Apparently, those renowned Evangelists enjoy the glory that even Jesus never experienced, possibly due to the power of advertising?
Everything appears normal, as the attendees also receive what they expect from such renowned Evangelists. Without question, thousands get converted, through those systematic evangelistic campaigns?
However, in applying Jesus’ instruction, (Luke 10:6), the ‘sons of peace’ do not appear as having been involved, under those circumstances? The analysis of the aforesaid scripture shows that God’s missions are sponsored by God—through the ‘sons of peace’— not necessarily those identified as Christians already? See [Personal salvation vs. God’s Kingdom].
Those ‘sons of peace’ offer their services without expecting anything in return. Apparently, in their kindly acts, the sons of peace would not even be anticipating Heavenly rewards? (Matthew 25:37-39). They would be known to naturally welcome strangers, without consideration of status and mission.
Possibly, they may not even be familiar with the Bible and Christianity?? Just as the ‘sons of peace’ in Luke 10:6, may not have been aware of Jesus having commissioned those disciples in their special gospel mission?
This resembles another interesting Biblical example, concerning Rahab, who could not have been aware of the origins of the spies within the walls of Jericho: “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies” (Hebrews 11:31) (ESV).
The bottom line is that the new civilization is about giving, where there is no anticipation of remuneration. Such behavior can only be understood by those believing in Jesus and not those having faith in Jesus. [Believing in Jesus is different from having faith in Jesus].
While humans can discover better methods of doing things, Jesus does not change. He also never left His work to be financed by ordinary humans, but only by Him, through those identified as ‘sons of peace’. Jesus remains the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
It cannot be possible for those committed to solving problems, to also create problems. However, the predictable reality is that all solutions that focus on self (Self-centredness) create problems. While solutions that focus on other people (Altruism), solve problems. May the reader also be encouraged to take time to review [The wrong way of Church financing]?
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing reliefs to those having witnessed strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. In a simple conversational tone, most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long awaited providential oasis of hope.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99
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