Did you know that there is a mercy that can be contrary to God’s mercy? It’s true, and it’s what I call selfish mercy.
An example of this type of mercy is behind an act of kindness, in Genesis 20:13. The scripture reads, ‘And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness [Strong’s # H2617] which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.’
In this scripture, the word ‘kindness’ is CHECED, which is the same Hebrew word for ‘MERCY.’ Here, Abraham is asking for MERCY from Sarah when he suggests Sarah tell King Abimelech that he was her brother instead of her husband. Abraham felt that Sarah’s deception would be an act of MERCY and necessary to save his life. The reality is Abraham’s request was selfish, and so was this mercy because it almost got Abimelech killed by God (Genesis 20:3).
‘But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.’
All of this shows us that there is a selfish kind of MERCY. A MERCY that, if used, is not helpful to all around. A type of MERCY that only helps the person receiving it. This kind of MERCY is harmful. In this case, this type of MERCY almost got someone killed.
Selfish MERCY happens when we ask people to show us MERCY that is not agreeable with God’s MERCY.
When being merciful, be on guard against selfish MERCY. Some markers that precede this type of mercy are usually lies, manipulation, and more. Ask God to help you discern motives, including your own and other people’s, to avoid deception. After all, someone’s life could depend on it, including the person that is asking for mercy.
#BeMerciful #Mercy #JesusLover
PHILIP M. WATSON | ARTIST, WRITER, EDUCATOR |
Philip M. Watson is an artist, creative writing coach, and educator from Chicago, IL. He is the creator behind the Jesus Lover brand and the Soakscope Biblical Meditation movement. As a professional educator, Philip helps to unlock the creativity in writers of all ages. As a Christian minister, Philip’s one-of-a-kind teaching grace, coupled with a pure prophetic authority, helps him supernaturally connect with others to make learning unforgettable. For info about Jesus Lover, all available online courses, upcoming events, and more visit PhilipWatson.org.
Featured Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
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