Long suffering

[Johan]

Good day

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to ask this question, but here goes.

At what point do you stop doing stuff for people? For instance in a work situation you are treated as the 'fixer' or cleaning up after other people, when do you say enough is enough and stop doing what you do?

I know Jesus told us to take up our cross and to follow Him. Do you try to hold out and continue taking the punches? Is this the love Jesus wants us to have for people or am I missing something?

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[ken777]

Good day

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to ask this question, but here goes.

At what point do you stop doing stuff for people? For instance in a work situation you are treated as the 'fixer' or cleaning up after other people, when do you say enough is enough and stop doing what you do?

I know Jesus told us to take up our cross and to follow Him. Do you try to hold out and continue taking the punches? Is this the love Jesus wants us to have for people or am I missing something?

Any thoughts appreciated.

You do not help a person by doing what he/she should do. Take whatever action is needed to make the other person accept his/her responsibilities.
However, do not let a person's neglect of his/her duties negatively impact a third person - I am thinking of a nursing home situation where staff do not properly carry out their duties.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

Dont take up the cross, try to be "taken up" as Jesus in Islam. *smiles*

I dont know what that means exactly, but its probably better than being systematically crucified.

"Taking up the cross" is an odd idea anyway. If sins put the cross there, why give in to sin?

Wouldnt that "lower the game".


I mean, youre supposed to have self control, and not offend God or the "imago dei" (image of God in man), from your own perspective in relation to self and others. So why make other people and their sins or incursions against you the exception to the rule? If anything, that seems like good manners and righteousness intverted.

I am muslim, but not an extremist. My faith is in a primary sense about "tauqua" or protection against secular and supernatural harm. Shielding, guarding, caution are root meanings. Its a practical faith. The guidance (huda, rules, guidance, delimitations) of the pius (those with tauqua, the mutaquin) is meant to make them safe and secure, and prosperous.

"Well pleased with God, and pleasing unto Him..." IIRC, as the Koran says in surah FAjr (the Dawn) at the very end. So the relationship between piety and health, ones duties and rights, and Gods pleasure with us, is positive, not self sacrificial.

"The wages iof sin is death" says the bible. selah.

 

[Dave-W]

Dont take up the cross, try to be "taken up" as Jesus in Islam. *smiles*
I don't know what that means exactly, but its probably better than being systematically crucified.
"Taking up the cross" is an odd idea anyway. If sins put the cross there, why give in to sin?
Wouldn't that "lower the game".

You clearly need to be educated in the Bible. "Taking up your cross" daily is a COMMAND by the Lord to die to ourselves every day.

I am not sure what you mean by "jesus in islam;" but I do know that islam is vehemently opposed to the true nature of Jesus because it operates in the demonic spirit of antichrist. There is a denial that He is the Son of God.

"god has no son"

That is a lie which is central to islamic thought and doctrine.

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

 

[dgiharris]

Good day

Good day

....At what point do you stop doing stuff for people?

When I no longer want to, I simply stop.

...At what point do you stop doing stuff for people? For instance in a work situation you are treated as the 'fixer' or cleaning up after other people, when do you say enough is enough and stop doing what you do?

In a work situation, I will help people as long as it yields an advantage or benefit for me. Whether that benefit is money, status, friendship, a future favor, respect, clout, good will, loyalty, or accolades... I usually have no problem helping out.

However, if there is little to no benefit to me or it actually impacts me negatively or adds undo burden to my work schedule without adequate compensation, then no, I'm not helping out.

...I know Jesus told us to take up our cross and to follow Him. Do you try to hold out and continue taking the punches? Is this the love Jesus wants us to have for people or am I missing something?.

I separate work from everyday life. But occasionally the lines blur... what if a friend you have at work asks for help? Then I have no problem helping a friend. What about a complete stranger? Well, if there is no negative impact to me, usually I will. The situation and context also matter, I mean, if someone was lazy or irresponsible and they need me to clean up their mess and it is a recurring problem or gross negligence or incompetence then no, I'm not helping.

 

[Johan]

You do not help a person by doing what he/she should do. Take whatever action is needed to make the other person accept his/her responsibilities.
However, do not let a person's neglect of his/her duties negatively impact a third person - I am thinking of a nursing home situation where staff do not properly carry out their duties.

You are right. I almost forgot about the example from Jesus. Jesus preached His sermon on the Mount and thereafter fed them with 2 fishes and 5 bread. When He started to talk about taking up your cross, people started to leave.

From this example Jesus did not continue to feed them without asking them to take up their cross. So He did not allow them to take advantage.

 

[DaisyDay]

Seventy times seven, I think.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Galatians 6:9
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

If you are getting weary of helping others, quit for awhile until you are refreshed. Or, find a different avenue for helping others. There are needs everywhere. I have become seriously offended by some things that have happened in my life and my response was to stop all charitable giving as 'revenge'. When I am over this offense I will resume giving. And I feel very good about this.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

You clearly need to be educated in the Bible. "Taking up your cross" daily is a COMMAND by the Lord to die to ourselves every day.

I am not sure what you mean by "jesus in islam;" but I do know that islam is vehemently opposed to the true nature of Jesus because it operates in the demonic spirit of antichrist. There is a denial that He is the Son of God.

"god has no son"

That is a lie which is central to islamic thought and doctrine.

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

Thanks for that quote, never seen it before, and hope I cause no offence, this being a Christian forum...

 

[DogmaHunter]

Good day

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to ask this question, but here goes.

At what point do you stop doing stuff for people? For instance in a work situation you are treated as the 'fixer' or cleaning up after other people, when do you say enough is enough and stop doing what you do?

I know Jesus told us to take up our cross and to follow Him. Do you try to hold out and continue taking the punches? Is this the love Jesus wants us to have for people or am I missing something?

Any thoughts appreciated.

I don't think it's a good idea to be a push-over. No matter what any religion says.

 

[Johan]

Galatians 6:9
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

If you are getting weary of helping others, quit for awhile until you are refreshed. Or, find a different avenue for helping others. There are needs everywhere. I have become seriously offended by some things that have happened in my life and my response was to stop all charitable giving as 'revenge'. When I am over this offense I will resume giving. And I feel very good about this.

Thank you for the quote, it actually answers my question.

 

[joshua 1 9]

Good day

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to ask this question, but here goes.

At what point do you stop doing stuff for people? For instance in a work situation you are treated as the 'fixer' or cleaning up after other people, when do you say enough is enough and stop doing what you do?

I know Jesus told us to take up our cross and to follow Him. Do you try to hold out and continue taking the punches? Is this the love Jesus wants us to have for people or am I missing something?

Any thoughts appreciated.

A good place to start is to ask: What would Jesus do? We know that He went about preaching, teaching and healing the sick. This is a real challenge in our job to follow the ex as example Jesus set for us.

 

[DaisyDay]

Good day

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to ask this question, but here goes.

At what point do you stop doing stuff for people? For instance in a work situation you are treated as the 'fixer' or cleaning up after other people, when do you say enough is enough and stop doing what you do?

I know Jesus told us to take up our cross and to follow Him. Do you try to hold out and continue taking the punches? Is this the love Jesus wants us to have for people or am I missing something?

Any thoughts appreciated.

I don't know, but it seems as if you are expecting gratitude for doing what you think is right. If so, then it's no wonder you're getting bitter. Sometimes that will happen, usually it won't, and some people will get their jollies playing you for a sucker. If you do a good deed, know full well you will be punished for it.

Should you be a pushover? It's up to you to decide (and it is a decision) what is important to you and where your dignity lays - is it in what you do or in how people treat you? Too much of the time, people stink (all of us), but if you can do what you do with a cheerful heart then it won't matter. If you can't, then don't - better not to "help" than to do it and resent it (if it's trivial; if it's crucial to someone's life, better to do it and resent it).

I've been told - and I believe it's true - that a sense of humor is also a sense of perspective. Acknowledging your place in the universe and accepting that with grace, humor and a charitable heart should get you through a lot.