Tuesday 21 April 2009

Filling out forms is never much fun, is it? All the same, I have to have a little smile to myself every time I fill out a passport application for somebody. The reason for my amusement is its description of me as a 'person of standing'. It sounds so stuffy and self-important. But I suppose its true, in a way. A minister, a bit like a doctor or a teacher, is a person that we should be able to trust. We respect them because we respect the office they hold. The title 'Reverend' is just a label to let people know what I stand for. Even so, I don't really think of myself in that way, as some respected member of society. Perhaps it's because I feel that respect has to be earned, rather than conferred. If anyone respects me, I would like to think that it's because of the deeds that go after me rather than the title that goes before me.

The Bible tells the story of a very wealthy and earnest young man who wanted to add a dash of spirituality to his many other achievements. He sauntered up to Jesus, very self-assured and confident and asked 'Good teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life'. Straight away Jesus cut him off and said that it wasn't up to him to say who was good and who wasn't. He then dealt him a body blow by saying that he should prove his sincerity by selling some of his many possessions and giving the money to the poor. Having the right stuff and making the right noises did nothing to gain respect from Jesus. It was all about doing the right things. The young man had power, influence, and even a degree of spiritual insight, but it was worth nothing until he proved his mettle through his actions.

In the end, people respect you because of HOW you are, rather than WHO you are. In the story, we never even hear the young man's name - we just remember him because of his actions ... or lack of them. Your standing in society may depend on all sorts of things - from your postcode to your employment. Your standing before God, though, is another thing altogether. He's not big on postcodes, and big salaries mean nothing to Him - as the young man in the story found out to his cost. God's respect can only be earned by selflessness and true humanity. How's your standing today?