This is one of the hardest teachings of Jesus that I have ever encountered. The Israelites had always been told that if someone poked out their eye, they had to have their eye poked out. If someone caused them to loose a tooth, they would have to have their tooth pulled out. But Jesus tells us that if someone slaps our cheek, we should turn the other cheek and let him hit that one too. He says that if someone takes you to court and gets the shirt off your back, freely give him your jacket as well.

Also during that time in history, a Roman soldier could make anyone carry something for them for a mile. The person had to drop what they were doing and carry the soldier’s things for a mile before going back to their business. Jesus is saying, if he asks you to walk a mile, go an extra mile with him, though you don’t have to do it.

Jesus also says that if someone wants to have or to borrow something from you, give it to him.

It seems like this is asking a whole lot of people. Doesn’t it? Really, if you think about it. Jesus is asking us to quit thinking about ourselves at all. To give up your rights to your things.  But why would he ask us to do that?

Well, Jesus wants us to have our mind on Him and not be so focused on being treated fairly or right. People are so consumed with themselves. Many people focus on the things are not going their way: People are not treating them right. Life isn’t fair. People are doing unfair and wrong things to them and getting away with it.

Both adults and children do this. As a child, do you worry about having things just the way you want them? Do you get upset when someone takes something that belongs to you? Are you worried about keeping your possessions, your blessings? Are you looking out to make sure everything is fair and square? Did you get as much cake as your friend at the party? Did you get as many presents as your sister at Christmas? Children are often worried about whether their brother or sisters or friend have everything equal and the same. They worry about keeping their possessions for themselves and not allowing others to take and possibly ruin them. They are focused on themselves, their stuff and their rights.

What are rights? Rights are the privileges you deserve. You have the right to be treated fairly. You have the right to keep your possessions. You have the right to not be hurt and injured by others.  God wants you to give up your rights for Him. Let Him be the one who blesses you; don’t try to bless yourself by holding on to your rights.

Giving up our rights is a sacrifice. Have you heard the word sacrifice? It means to give up something that is precious and important to you. God wants you to give up your precious rights to have everything fair. And when you do, you will be blessed because you will be doing God’s will.

But really, you are not giving up your rights to the person who is trampling on your rights. You are giving up your rights to God. You are sacrificing your rights for Him. When you turn the other cheek, you don’t do it for that person, you do it for God. When you give up your jacket to the person who is unkindly taking your shirt, you do it for God. When you walk an extra mile to the person who unfairly asks you to walk the first mile, you are doing it for God. When you give up your things to the person who asks for them, you are not doing it for that person, you are doing it for God.

And you will be blessed, not because you made sure to hold onto your rights and blessings, but because you let go of your rights and trusted that God would bless you.

How can you put this into practice today?