Pastor's Corner: 'Redeeming' others

[Ruth 4:9-12] The nearest kinsman-redeemer scuttles off, frightened away by the personal costs of restoring Naomi and Ruth to their property and social standing. In contrast, Boaz doesn’t hesitate to purchase Naomi’s land or to marry Ruth. His sacrificial actions fore-shadow Jesus’ behavior as our Redeemer, the one who fully pays the cost for our sins, adopts us into his family and bestows on us eternal security. Are we thankful enough for God’s provision in Christ that we are willing to sacrifice for the redemption of others who are in spiritual and physical need---even at great cost to ourselves (since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Jesus Christ) (Colossians 1:24 NRSV)?

The term steward is appropriate here because these relationships are not “ours.” The people we live with are God’s creations, the circumstances that bring us together are not dictated by us; the gifts of fellowship, even the very possibility for fellowship is part of God’s created order. Therefore our marriages, our friendships, our families and our church communities are gifts, precious gifts of God. Our call is to steward these relationships as precious gifts. That may require our time, our money, our talents, and it will always demand our commitment, sacrifice and love.

There are three components of this responsibility to steward interpersonal relationships: be thankful for people, be thoughtful of people and be trustworthy with people. Think of the people in your life---loved ones who are closest to you, extended family members, friends, acquaintances, classmates, co-workers, teammates, neighbors and others. God has blessed you with the opportunity to share with them, to experience the ups and downs of life with them. Thank him, with consistent appreciation, for those people.

Being thoughtful means putting the interests of others before your own interests, having the heart of a servant just as Jesus did. It means truly listening and truly caring in every way that is reasonably possible. And when you pray for others, be specific and focused.

To be trustworthy is to be one on whom others can depend. In the stewardship of your commitment to people this is paramount. So, keep your promises, honor your word and do what is right. Relationships must be cultivated and maintained; they don’t simply happen (even among Christians). Don’t wait for others to take the initiative and then complain that people don’t really care for you! Be proactive and be determined to make the most of every opportunity to connect with those whom God brings along the pathway of your life.

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Pastor Michael O’Hearn

Hi-Line Lutheran Churches