In Order to Teach Our Grandchildren – Hebrews 13

A text – Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

13:1 Let mutual love continue.
13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
13:3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.
13:4 Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.
13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
13:6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?”
13:7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
13:15 Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

A reflection:

Some of these verses have been misused, over time, to keep people down, to put them in their place. Like Proverbs 25:6-7, the scriptures have several occurrences of “know your place” language that can be used like a mallet to hit people over the head. But the Word of God shouldn’t be put to work in that way. So how do we read these verses without being an imperialist rich person trying to justify keeping others in poverty, to encourage others to put up with a lower lot in life while we might continue in a higher status?

The answer may lie in the early verses: mutual love, do not neglect, and other phrases that encourage our taking the other person’s perspective entirely, as if you were in prison with them, or as though you yourselves were being tortured.

When we walk a mile in someone else’s shoes (not just a few yards in them), when we really see what conditions are like for them, when we sit in their reality, we are doing what is called for in verse 16: we are doing good and sharing what we have, and such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Litle kids might have the right perspective. My grandson continually asks the question “Why?” He actually wants to know why we are choosing to do something. He actually likes to think from the point of view of someone else. Now, we know a child younger than 5 has cognitive limits – he can’t really fathom viewpoint and motivation. But he can intuit a lot of things, including what causes certain behavior. And he really wants to understand how grandma thinks and what grandpa’s action will be. He is actually interested in that. And once he learns it, he remembers it. For a long time.

If we demonstrate love as this passage in Hebrews would have us do, we not only please God. We also teach our children what it means to live in consideration of others, even if it costs us.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for expecting us to live with the rest of the world in mind. Help us to do that in order to please you and in order to teach our children and our grandchildren.  Amen.