There are people all around us. Some demand time or energy from us. We might not choose to have some of them as friends; perhaps because they are self-seeking, mentally confused, simple minded, arrogant, abusive or inconsiderate of others. Some are wealthy or poor; old or young; male, female or both; weak or strong; educated or illiterate; healthy or sick. Some are professionals or laborers; extroverts or introverts; helpful or lazy; kind or rough; loud or quiet. The list of attributes used to describe the people around us could continue, each new expletive would show a new perspective of the individual. Each account of that individual’s qualities or characteristics would define how we see that person and would define what our relationship to them would be like.
Think of the people around you, those that you work with, your neighbors, your family, your friends, those that you would never want to be your friends. From what perspective do we see those people that are around you? What thoughts do you have towards and about them?
In 2 Cor 5:16 the Apostle Paul states how his view of people has changed. “So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!”
Many people look at others from the point of view of their own bodily life, with its needs, desires, and pleasures. Consequently they see others only as men of flesh and blood, like themselves. To the apostle Paul, the former life had so completely ceased that people around him are no longer viewed that way. He saw individuals not as rich or poor, Jews or Gentiles, enemies or friends, but as people for whom Christ died.
There are many people around us whom we see as irritable or offensive. From our perspective they may be hard to get along with. Lord help us to see them through a new set of eyes. Help us to see them as precious people whom You value.
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