I was thinking this morning about how I am often torn between the essence of the first great commission and the essence of the first sin.
The first great commission was “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
The first sin was trying to be god.
God never said “Okay people, I want you to all go around and try to have dominion over each other. Crush others down with words, fists, actions, manipulation, whatever it takes.” Nope. The only thing we are supposed to subdue is the animals and the earth, not our fellow humans.
Most people spend their lives trying to make other people be like them. We prim and preen and worry, trying to make sure that we are someone who others will want to emulate.
That is why popularity has such a stranglehold on us.
But the truth of the matter is that He said to reproduce. (I’m not talkin’ about sex here, people. That’s another whole blog post.)
Humanity was created in the image of God, right? And we are supposed to reproduce, after our own kind, the kind that HE created. The concept behind reproduction is assisting in the bringing forth and raising up of others that are made in HIS image, not ours.
Paul said “follow me, as I follow Christ.” That really is the key in the struggle.
What are my motives, when I reach out in friendship or a mentoring relationship? Am I trying to help that person become like Christ, or am I trying to be their god? Do I want them to need me or do I want them to see their need for God? Do I want them to change, just so they conform to some image of perfection I hold in my own head?
-Just a thought-
The Wisdom of Gavroche 