PerryDox – BeJustAChristian

God created us to be social creatures. So this next point, just like the second one, will sound strange. Fifth, we discover even when we are happy because of the actions of others; it is not the action itself which makes us happy. In fact, we can be happy despite others and their actions. After all, when one is persecuted and insulted, these actions are not meant to bring happiness.  But they do because we are contented on the inside because of our God. Out of all the Beatitudes, only the final one, number 8 (5:10), does Jesus expand upon immediately (5:11-12)

Matthew 5:10-12 (HCSB) 10) Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11) “You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. 12) Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Some people do not understand, nor can they comprehend, the absolute freedom that comes with and from “kingdom righteous happiness.” This divine joy exists despite how other people treat us and is separate from human relationships. Unsatisfied in life, all their emotions are dependent on the emotions of others – that is why it is called co-dependency. If they are dependent on others than God, they are not dependent upon God. They are not whole by themselves with God. They seek a second person, but not a heavenly Father, a true brother, nor a comforting Spirit. Every hurtful word wounds and every rejection is personal and internalize. Their identification is not because God has drawn near in His kingdom through Jesus Christ (5:11). They cannot withstand the pressure of being persecuted for the sake of righteousness (5:10). They complete their fractured identity in their relationships with others whether as child, husband, wife, mother, father, friend or other earthly realms; instead of the realm of the kingdom of heaven.

Let’s examine these people by looking at common emotions such as anger, sadness, fear and happiness, and how they view these which are not seen and experienced as sons of the king and as living under His loving rule.

• If he is angry, it must be my fault. I feel guilty.
• If she is sad, I must have done something to hurt her feelings. I feel guilty.
• If she is afraid, I need to comfort and protect her. If she won’t let me, I feel guilty.
• If he is happy, I must have helped him! Got to remember to continually do what makes him happy or else I will feel guilty.
• If I am angry, he needs to change how he treats me and I need to make him feel guilty.
• If I am sad, it’s her fault. She is not doing enough and I need to make her feel guilty.
• If I am afraid, because he doesn’t spend all his time with me. I need to make him feel guilty.
• If I am happy, because I finally got him to be exactly how I want because I made him feel guilty.

Now let’s rewrite the Beatitudes to describe these people who truly need to find true fulfillment. Finding happiness and fulfillment solely by pleasing others, dependent upon their approval for our self-image is diametrically opposed to the Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount, and especially the 8^th Beatitude. These kinds of people lower the Beatitudes from blessings to Sad-titudes:

• Sad are those poor in spirit only if others are. For theirs is the kingdom of co-dependency, inconsistency, and uncertainty.
• Sad are those who mourn because their happiness depends upon others. For they will not be comforted from God, because they look elsewhere.
• Sad are those who are gentle not from strength but because of fear. For they will continue to inherit the disapproval of others.
• Sad are those who hunger and thirst after the approval of others. For they will continually be more empty than filled because their acceptance is based upon their continuing performance.
• Sad are those who show mercy desperately seeking love. For they will be shown nothing except disdain.
• Sad are the blind in heart. For they will continually see themselves as unworthy of true love.
• Sad are those who seek peace by surrendering what they know is right and becoming what others approve. For they will be called doormats.
• Sad are those who are persecuted, not for righteousness, but because people find them weak, annoying, cloying, and desperate. For theirs is the kingdom of continual rejection, fake relationships, and heartaches.

God created us to be social creatures, but our need is fulfilled mainly by our social relationship with our Creator in His kingdom.

Tags: Sermon on the Mount

This entry was posted by PHall on Saturday, August 25th, 2012 at 2:43 pm and is filed under Matthew. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.