You People

I read an interesting and challenging Facebook post recently. I was interested for a couple of reasons. First, the material was posted by a friend of mine. 

Secondly, I was also interested because he was writing about something we have in common. Both of us have struggled with our weight. 

I read with interest about his significant weight loss during 2015. He has done a magnificent job of combining diet and exercise in order to improve his health. As you can imagine, my friend’s post also challenged me to get more serious about my own health. 

However, that was not the greatest challenge  My greatest challenge was to my own thinking. That challenge has absolutely nothing to do with weight. 

At the suggestion of a cardiologist, my friend began the process of getting himself ready for weight loss surgery. He told of some of the hoops he jumped through in order to get ready for the surgery. He told of his hopes as he finally met with the doctor who would perform his surgery.

My friend also told of the fateful two words that changed everything. I can only try to imagine how he must have felt when the man he had come to for help referred to those who are overweight as “you people.”

As soon as those words were spoken, all hope of dealing with somebody who cared about him and his struggles was gone. It was evident that there never would be a relationship between a person seeking help and somebody who could provide that help. 

My friend decided against the surgery. He tried another route and, thankfully, has been successful.

So, what does that have to do with me? It has a great deal to do with something much more important than physical well-being.  It has to do with something of eternal importance.

Those two words spoken by the surgeon caused me to ask myself:

“How do I react to those who are struggling with sin (and who may be losing that struggle)? What message do I give them, either by my words or my demeanor, when they approach me and ask me if I can help in some way? Do I wrap myself in the cloak of my own sense of self-importance and self-righteousness and look down my nose at those I consider to be ‘you people?’”

There are, of course, many suggestions, methods, products, etc. that promise to help us lose weight. I am very glad that my friend has found a way that is working for him.

In terms of that most important aspect of our existence, consider carefully these words from the lips of Jesus:

…I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). 

Wouldn’t it be a shame if somebody never found Him because of the insensitivity of one who claimed to be one of His followers?

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