Living according to Jesus’ teachings involves doing quite a few difficult things, but Christ’s true followers will do them regardless.
The apology that never comes
It’s hard enough to forgive someone when they apologize, but it only becomes harder when they don’t apologize. Jesus taught his followers to do it anyway. Yes, in Matthew 18:21–22, he actually told Peter that he should forgive more than seven times.
He also prayed for forgiveness for the people responsible for his crucifixion in Luke 23:34. You’re living the way Jesus planned if you readily forgive those around you. You don’t have to pretend their behavior was acceptable or allow them to hurt you again, though.
The favor nobody can repay
Jesus encouraged a certain kind of behavior in Luke 14:12–14. He told people to invite the poor and the disabled to their meals. He was trying to encourage people to stop entertaining wealthy friends who could return the invitation.
But the message here goes beyond simple meals. Jesus was trying to encourage people to help those who can’t give them anything in return, whether financially or otherwise. If you’re someone who helps people that can’t help you, then you’re doing what He said.
The person you’ve never met
It’s pretty easy to ignore a stranger’s problems, especially when you have your stuff to deal with. But Jesus told us to help them despite that. He used the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37 to teach people what being a good neighbor involves.
It means helping everyone, regardless of who they are. It means helping those in need and treating strangers as though they’re your neighbors. Someone who behaves in that way is following Jesus’s teachings to a T.
The bigger paycheck
Don’t get it wrong, there’s nothing particularly strange about wanting to have a comfortable life. Yet Jesus warned against making wealth your main priority. The story in Luke 12:15–21 is the perfect example of that.
In these verses, Jesus talks about a rich farmer who planned to build larger barns because he had so many crops, and the man expected to enjoy his wealth for years. But he died that very night. Jesus was essentially warning people that we shouldn’t measure life by possessions and that we should be satisfied with what we have. Someone who lives like that is doing what He taught.
The first move after an argument
Making peace sometimes involves talking to someone who you’d really rather avoid. For example, maybe you had an argument with a family member, and neither of you wants to make the first move. Jesus said in Matthew 5:23–24 that you should.
He taught that if someone has an issue with you, you should try to make peace with them before presenting an offering at the altar. So, people who resolve their disagreements and don’t allow resentment to continue are doing exactly what He said.
The forgotten people
Most people don’t imagine spending their free time visiting somebody in prison. They’re also not going to think about checking that a homeless person has enough clothes. Jesus talked about these exact kinds of situations, however, in Matthew 25:35–40.
He said that people should actively try to help those whom society would rather ignore. He spoke about feeding hungry people and clothing those in need. In other words, we should direct practical acts of kindness toward the people who are experiencing hardship.
The chance to get even
Matthew 5:38–44 features one of Jesus’s most famous lines. He talks about how His followers should turn the other cheek and love their enemies, as well as saying that people should pray for those who hurt them.
He said we shouldn’t try to get revenge on those who have hurt us. Answering every personal offense with another offense won’t get you anywhere, and Jesus’s true followers will refuse to get revenge, no matter the issue.
The mistake that’s actually yours
Jesus knew that admitting that you’re wrong is hard, and that it’s even harder when there’s somebody else you could blame. He said you should still do it, though. He describes someone in Matthew 7:3–5 trying to remove a tiny speck from another person’s eye while ignoring a large plank in their own.
The message here is clear. Deal with your own faults and admit the things that you’ve done wrong. Maybe you have to admit you exaggerated a story or unfairly accused someone, but either way, do it. People who admit the mistakes that they’ve made are following His teachings.
The promise without a performance
There are some people who act like they need to make some elaborate oath to keep their promises. For example, they’ll swear on their mother’s life, just to convince you they’re being honest. Jesus didn’t support that.
In Matthew 5:33–37, he told people that they shouldn’t make elaborate oaths and that they should simply mean what they say. Makes sense, really. Do what you say you’re going to do, without any of the drama, and let people know that your word is enough.
The seat at the table
One of the most important things that Jesus taught was that we should treat everyone around us with dignity, no matter their social status. Jesus did it Himself in Luke 19:1–10. He invited Himself to the house of Zacchaeus, a wealthy chief tax collector, even though many people didn’t like him.
Jesus didn’t care about Zacchaeus’s reputation. All that was important to Jesus was to treat that man as His equal, and it’s a message that he wanted his followers to do the same, too. If you treat everyone else with respect, you’re following Jesus’s teaching.
The private side of faith
Jesus was very keen on making sure his followers didn’t use religion to make themselves look superior. He was really against making a performance out of faith. That’s why he criticized those who prayed publicly just to be admired, and those who advertised their generosity.
Anyone who gives quietly and prays privately is doing the right thing. It could be something as simple as helping a struggling neighbor without telling everyone at church about it. There’s no reason to act like you’re better than someone who doesn’t go to church as often as you do.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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