Opus 2011-64, Exceptions to the rule

At our school, no students are supposed to be in the building before 8:15.  Experience has shown that if they are allowed in they write graffiti, drop trash and create problems.  I usually arrive around 7:45 and everyday when I go up the stair to my room there is a student opening his locker and getting ready for the day.  He is creating no problem.  He seems a responsible young man, but he is not supposed to be there.  What gives?  His father is the head janitor.  He is special.  He gets special privileges. 

We see this on simple levels every day.  People who feel like they are above the rules, or the law.  I am sure you have seen people parking where they were not supposed to park.  You have seen people driving like demented halfbacks.  You have seen people with 30 items in the 10 item line.  It starts simple.

Then we have a congress that seems to exempt themselves from all the laws they pass.  They have their own health care, retirement system, hiring system and often think they should not need to pay traffic tickets. 

How does this reflect on the Christian?  The Christian should be guided by the Biblical standard which is summed up well by the apostle Paul,

(Philippians 2:3-4 NASB)  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

You also have the command to love your neighbor as yourself and the story of the good Samaritan.  We are supposed to be concerned about the welfare of others rather than tooting our own horn.

Do Christians always live up to this?  Obviously, no.  But they should.  If you want to drive like a pagan, don’t put a Christian bumper sticker on your car.  If you are going to treat the waitress like your personal slave, don’t pray before your meal.

We should be exceptions to the rule of selfishness.

homo unius libri