In my quiet time today I came across these verses from Proverbs 23, "Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their cause against you."
At first I was confused. How am I supposed to learn anything from this? What does that part about the landmark even mean? Also, it almost sounds like it's saying to NOT help out orphans and widows, even though in other places in the Bible it clearly instructs us to do this (like James 1:27). Instead this verse sounds like it's telling us to keep our distance from them because God is their Redeemer, and He doesn't want you to try to help.
This is where it started making a little more sense. My understanding of these verses isn't that we should ignore the helpless and expect God to do all the work -- if there's anything I've learned throughout the years in my relationship with God, it's that we both have our part to do. God is always faithful in His part, but the question is, will we be faithful in ours?
That's where the truth made itself known to me in the midst of this seemingly confusing passage. It's not telling us to do nothing -- it is telling us to do our part, but the emphasis is on "our." We are to do our own part, not God's. What is God's part? He is the Redeemer. We are not. Don't in your ignorance think you know what's best for the world. Do not try to be someone else's Savior, for they already have a Redeemer, and you will be held responsible for trying to take His place.
The most helpful thing I got out of these verses are questions I am still mulling over. It has really given me a lot to think about and take in prayer to the Lord. Am I trying to be someone's Savior? Am I trying to be my own Savior? With whom do I feel, "If only they would take my advice, everything would work out," or, "If only they saw things my way, they'd be much better off"? How do you love someone without trying to take God's place in their life?
We are not called to be someone else's Savior, and there is great comfort and peace in that. Personally, I let out a sigh of relief upon this realization. I don't have to be perfect. This is a burden I can cast on Christ instead, because He can carry it. My part is obedience to God, and to trust Him to do His part. In the meantime, Lord, teach us how to love others with You, not in place of You.
