Reason

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

As I studied for the sermon I found something a little frustrating. Every different translation of the bible I opened interpreted this text a different way: gentleness, forbearance, forbearing spirit and reasonableness.

The word literally means patient endurance, self restraint and moderation. The word teaches that Christians are not slaves to their passions. We do not slavishly give in to our tempers and lash out, nor do we slavishly give in to our appetites and make gods out of our bellies.

So far so good, but how does that flow out of rejoicing? What does praise and moderation have to do with one another.

I believe we have a clear connection, self-pity. The height of righteousness is love, treating others the way you want to be treated. Thinking of others more than you think of your self. The height of sin is self-preoccupation. Self-preoccupation usually leads to some form of self-pity. We just do not get what we deserve. Things never work out for us. Self-pity almost always leads to irrational sin. If no one else is going to make me feel good, then I will do whatever it takes to make myself feel good.

When you believe no one gives you the respect and credit you deserve, you lash out at those weaker than you, you ice out your equals, and you embitter yourselves toward those you depend upon.

Parents yell at Children. School kids pick on those younger than them. Husbands stay late at work. Wives pretend not to notice when husbands get home. Couples don’t even kiss each other good night. Employees talk about their bosses. Children dream of the day when they can get out of the house and never see dad again.

All these ugly chain reactions, just because we don’t get what we deserve.

You need to cheer up, you are much worse than you think. You need to remember Christmas, and that you are such a sinner that nothing could reconcile you to God. You are so wicked that God himself had to come searching for you, he had to take on all your sin and rebellion. He took the life you deserved, born in poverty, hunted from the day of his birth, rejected by his own people, homeless and poor, hounded by those who followed him always asking for more, ultimately betrayed by those who were closest to him, openly humiliated and unjustly put to death. You are right, you have not gotten what you deserve.

You have gotten infinitely more than you deserve. You were a rebel, a runaway who despised your father, and he has graciously brought you back into the home. He has lavished his love upon you and made you his own son.

Do you see how rejoicing restores your reason. If you receive every good part of every day as an undeserved gift, then it is impossible to fall into self pity. But you have to rejoice. You will be tempted to feel like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son – ‘You never gave me anything.’ To fight that sin you must rejoice, and must remember.