LET'S MAKE IT MUTUAL!
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Prov. 13:12, R.S.V.
Mutuality: it's the key to all successful and productive relationships. It prompts you to say, "I feel the same way!" or "I've been there!" and allows you to "rejoice with those who rejoice" and "weep with those who weep" (Rom. 12:15, R.S.V.). IT is tremendously comforting when someone shares your grief and immensely satisfying when they understand and applaud your goals. As a matter of fact, life isn't much fun, and is scarcely endurable, without some degree of reciprocity.
There is an interesting component in the issue of mutuality. It did not originate in the heart of man. We read in Genesis 1:26, "Then God ["Elohim," plural] said, 'Let us make man in our image' " (R.S.V.). The very creation of man was a cooperative undertaking of the Godhead. The need for mutuality was "built in" to mankind in that we were made like God.
Conversely, one of the greatest centerpieces of the gospel is that Jesus was made like us in every way (Heb. 2:17), and therefore sympathizes with us in our fallen condition (chap. 4:15). God is virtually saying, "I understand how you feel! I've been there!" He says it in a thousand different ways all through the Scriptures. And if we read very carefully, we shall also understand God.
We hear Him in Proverbs 13:12 when He says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life"--I know how sick at heart you feel when your expectations are thwarted. In creating mankind, I intended for you to reveal to the watching universe what I am like! That hope has been deferred, buy My desire shall still be fulfilled. And when it is, we shall all rejoice together.
And in 2 Corinthians 1:4: "He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we in turn may be able to comfort others in any trouble of theirs and to share with them the consolation we ourselves receive from God" (N.E.B.)--thereby revealing His comprehensive understanding of our need not only to be comforted, but to give comfort and share experiences.
Perhaps one of the most poignant texts is Isa. 1:18: "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord'' (R.S.V.).--I'll listen to you, and you listen to Me. It's important to Me that we work out our problems together!
We matter to God! He understands how we feel! Let's make it mutual!
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Prov. 13:12, R.S.V.
Mutuality: it's the key to all successful and productive relationships. It prompts you to say, "I feel the same way!" or "I've been there!" and allows you to "rejoice with those who rejoice" and "weep with those who weep" (Rom. 12:15, R.S.V.). IT is tremendously comforting when someone shares your grief and immensely satisfying when they understand and applaud your goals. As a matter of fact, life isn't much fun, and is scarcely endurable, without some degree of reciprocity.
There is an interesting component in the issue of mutuality. It did not originate in the heart of man. We read in Genesis 1:26, "Then God ["Elohim," plural] said, 'Let us make man in our image' " (R.S.V.). The very creation of man was a cooperative undertaking of the Godhead. The need for mutuality was "built in" to mankind in that we were made like God.
Conversely, one of the greatest centerpieces of the gospel is that Jesus was made like us in every way (Heb. 2:17), and therefore sympathizes with us in our fallen condition (chap. 4:15). God is virtually saying, "I understand how you feel! I've been there!" He says it in a thousand different ways all through the Scriptures. And if we read very carefully, we shall also understand God.
We hear Him in Proverbs 13:12 when He says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life"--I know how sick at heart you feel when your expectations are thwarted. In creating mankind, I intended for you to reveal to the watching universe what I am like! That hope has been deferred, buy My desire shall still be fulfilled. And when it is, we shall all rejoice together.
And in 2 Corinthians 1:4: "He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we in turn may be able to comfort others in any trouble of theirs and to share with them the consolation we ourselves receive from God" (N.E.B.)--thereby revealing His comprehensive understanding of our need not only to be comforted, but to give comfort and share experiences.
Perhaps one of the most poignant texts is Isa. 1:18: "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord'' (R.S.V.).--I'll listen to you, and you listen to Me. It's important to Me that we work out our problems together!
We matter to God! He understands how we feel! Let's make it mutual!
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