[Michael]

A friend once told me about an important lesson they learned from their teacher, Paul Stark Seeley (whose article was recently published in the “Love is the Liberator” November 2017 publication) in regards to this topic, specifically having to do with harboring hatred for someone. What he told her was that if you hate someone, you are just as consumed with that hatred as if you worshiped the ground they walk on….hence making them your false God.

This topic was also covered in an article I once read where the question was posed: Who do you love? God? Or some faulty view of some person? The point was that the writer of the article realized they were in fact breaking the first commandment. The writer recognized they had to redirect their affections towards God and away from some person, and this led to their healing.

This question can be asked of any problem we seem to face. Are we consumed with the problem? Is is occupying most, if not all, of our thought? Are we worshiping a problem we face? Then it’s time to revisit the first commandment and do our best to obey it.

[Michael]

Thank you for pointing out Abram’s trust in God! Abram’s behavior demonstrates Meekness. I have read modern definitions of meekness and they suggest a negative tone to the word, like being a doormat for others. I have also found biblical based definitions to this word that suggest a quiet form of strength.
Having a genuine trust in God, as Abram demonstrated, rules out any sense of human will and fear. There really is no need to push and claw past others in order to get some limited amount of good. Good is available everywhere, for everyone.
“For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength…”
Isaiah 30:15

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