Subject: Are we to give ALL to anyone wanting it? |
Bible Note: Azurelaw, Thank you for your very loving reply. I will most certainly look up those passages. I find Matt 5:40 and Luke 6:29 confusing, but can see that there is some message beyond the words for Jesus to take it to the extreme. A long time ago I'd heard (a pastor said) that to "turn your cheek" actually meant to demand to be treated as an equal. That for the attacker to hit you on the R cheek (assuming they were R handed as most people are) required them to backhand you which was an insult...something that meant you were of less stature than they were, thus Jesus said to offer the LEFT cheek, meaning to tell them to regard you as an equal. I found that interesting, but the coat/shirt stuff I find confusing with very little commentary on it. I'm not so much trying to "claim what's mine"... if I wanted to do so, I'd have sued her as was suggested, however without proof that she destroyed the will (it was all heresay in that my father mentioned it to me privately, with no other witnesses.) As earlier stated, I haven't even charged her rent, although it would be a great help financially. I do, however, want to do right by my parent's lifelong work to honor their lives and dying wishes. I'm sure they would not want my sister to face being homeless when my dad's 2nd wife has many many times more than she'll ever need, but is filled with hatred and greed. Personally, if I truly believed that God wanted me to let her have it ALL,I'd be happy to do so, (at least for my portion)as I've done so with everything other than the house. I'd refused to sue. I should tell you we are not talking about a lot of money here (about 25K...after lawyer/real estate fees and taxes it will most likely be 15-20K at best. That's not a lot to someone who has money (she has at least 500K between her own 1st marriage, inheritances and my parent's savings. That is in addition to the value of the house)... and being in her 80s, it's not likely she'll need or even be able to use most of it. (Her health has been bad for many years already, but not something that doctors/surgery/medicine can not help with any longer.) As I'd said, she's being mean as she was from the night my dad died. Within 2 hours after his death, she was throwing *everything* of his in the garbage. (much more can be said here...about how she desecrated his grave, etc, but this is enough to portray her mindset) This meanness is especially apparent in that she will not even give me my parents wedding bands (nothing fancy, or of value other than sentimental -just plain thin gold bands) or my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary picture. (She didn't even know my grandfather, and this holds no meaning to her). When you are faced with long term unemployment, however, as my sister has been, and is in danger of losing her house....either by not being able to make the mortgage, or by having to move since her neighborhood is dangerously being taken over by drug dealers and vandalism, that inheritance could mean the difference between being homeless (worst case) and moving to a bit of a safer neighborhood upon retirement (best case). I just want to do what is right in God's eyes. I've loved God as far back as I can remember... back to my preschool days, but as stated in my profile, I only came to learn to read, enjoy and study the bible as an adult. Most of my experience with scripture has been in the past few years and I'm very very blessed to have this forum to get ask questions to help me to understand and apply it to daily life. Thank you again for your kindness and your loving Christian heart. I pray our precious Saviour blesses you abundantly for your efforts to sincerely reflect Him to others. |