Not What but Why

Many comedians like to joke about every child’s ‘first’ word. “Why?” Though rarely our first word, once we learn to speak, we are always wanting to know information. Why is the sky blue? Why did my goldfish die? Knowing why something happens gives us comfort.

It is no different in our spiritual journey with God. Why do we fast? Why do we pray? Why do we avoid quarrels with others? Why can’t I do what I want? Just about every Christian behavior has a ‘why’ attached to it, and the ‘why’ matters.

Brethren, when Cephas came to Antioch I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And with him the rest of the Jews acted insincerely, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their insincerity. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “if you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?” We ourselves, who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, yet who know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified.

Galatians 2.11-16

For Saint Paul, why we follow the Law matters. It wasn’t enough for the Jews to follow the rules, even perfectly, if they were disconnected to why the rules were established in the first place. Jewish dietary laws weren’t about the food. They were about loving God.

The entirety of the Law is love. Christ said, “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22.40) He was speaking about love. When was the last time you considered the Law from the position of love? It doesn’t end with the Old Testament Law.

Prayer, fasting, almsgiving, the sacraments, worship, even our Christian moral code, is about loving God and each other. If any one of these spiritual disciplines are not helping you love God AND your neighbor, then you’re ‘doing’ them wrong.

I invite you to spend today challenging yourself to find the ‘why’ in your day. If what you are doing, even if not overtly spiritual, isn’t about loving God and others, then consider what that means for your salvation.

One final thing about loving God and others. It isn’t love to encourage others to walk away from Christ. It isn’t love to enable any behavior that is dangerous. We wouldn’t stand idle if our friend was about to leap into traffic. We love God AND others. Not just God. Not just others.

I also invite you not to bite off more than you can chew today. It is not your responsibility to save every human being. It is your responsibility to love God and others, but let’s be real for a moment. You must start somewhere. Start with the people you know, your friends and family.

I know Christ teaches that we must love our enemies. Loving our enemies is not the same ‘action’ as loving our friends and family. If we’re honest, we don’t often encounter our enemies. Loving our friends and family can be just as difficult.

Most people think loving friends and family is giving them everything they want. That is not love. Even God Who loves everyone, doesn’t give everyone everything they want. Start by praying for your family. Start by asking God to forgive your family.

You will be surprised just how different relationships become when you are actively praying for others. Don’t pray as if you know what they need better than God. Pray for God to forgive them and bless them. Pray for God’s mercy and grace upon them. That is love.

However you choose to act, remember to start by loving God and others. Love is our why. It won’t matter what we do if we lose our why.