6 June 2025
You likely know the story about the sheep and the goats, but how about the sheep and the sheep? The book of Ezekiel uses such an illustration to point out a condition that existed in Israel, those who would forcefully elevate themselves by pushing others out of the way, both figuratively and literally. There would be those whose whole concern was for their own wellbeing, so much so that they would make things worse for other ‘sheep.’ This was, if you will, a natural progression that happens when one lives under the old covenant, the keeping of laws. One must evaluate behavior in contrast to something, and the natural subject to contrast against is other people. “I’m not as bad as that one. After all, I tithe and go to church regularly,” and all the various expressions of self-elevation are a matter of the law.
We see a prime example in the story of Marth and Mary. It was not that Martha was working when she should have been sitting. Oh no. She was in competition, though she didn’t know it. The one competing against her was not Mary, either, it was herself. She assumed she needed to behave a certain way in order to fulfill the false expectations she believed about herself. These likely were fed by family and society, as well as herself. This is true of us all. “The better part” that Jesus pointed toward was not a matter of doing or not doing, of achieving acceptance, or being seen as ‘helpful’, ‘behaviorally proper’, or ‘successful.’ It was, in whatever she was doing, to have her attention drawl in the Lord’s direction. If we are focused on achievement, we forget to see others and ourselves in the manner that Jesus does. We set up a constant environment of evaluation that brings forth judgment.
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” “Run the race in a manner that you will win the prize.” These sound like we are being charged with the task of doing something. Yet, Paul was a good psychologist in that he directed human nature toward closer intimacy and attention on the Lord. This is the ‘in a manner that you will win’ definition. The new covenant brought through Jesus is defined as having one’s state of being in direct proximity to the Lord’s presence. The ‘doing’ that ensues is the process of becoming, and always with the focus on self-control and more beautifully reflecting God’s image. It is not over against anyone else. We are to see the Lord more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly. It is hard to follow Jesus when our attention is drawn toward comparing ourselves with others.