Some things cause an immediate reaction. A balloon bursts, a car backfires, you smell smoke, and your nerves instantly respond. Your sensitivity to the environment can be good when it causes you to be more aware of what’s happening around you. Sometimes though, you react to people, family members, or co-workers who just seem to push your buttons in a negative way, making you feel angry or uncomfortable. They bring out the worst in you and you’re not even sure why. Perhaps those button-pushers give you an opportunity you may not have considered. They may actually help you grow in your relationship with Christ, and here’s how.
1 Peter 4:7 in the Message version says this: “Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless–cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gives you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything–encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!”
I love this scripture about treating others well, because it pushes my buttons. It makes me realize how easy it is to pass someone by simply because I’ve made a snap judgment about who they are or what they deserve. It reminds me that God gave each of us special gifts to share for a reason. He wants us to take the golden rule to heart and apply it even to those we may find unsettling, who push our buttons. We might even love the naysayers, or those who simply hold different values than we do. It appears God’s standards are higher than ours. He sees our job as ongoing, acting and reacting with love. Love covers up a bunch of mistakes we each have made. Chances are we’ve made more than a few.
Our generous response to others shines a light on the things God has done for us and the things He wants to do for everyone else as well. Yes, sometimes you must simply walk away, shaking the dust off your feet and moving on, but most of the time, love makes a difference. Then grace prevails.
We can all choose to be kind, blessing those around us. It would be great if we had a kindness button. Perhaps then, we’d always bring love to the situation at hand. Stress brings out the button pushers, but God wants us to be His example of love and forgiveness, possibility and forbearance. Why? Because that’s what He does for you and me every single day.
I suspect when it comes to God’s actions toward us, His button is always set on love.