The "extra mile" is a reference to Christ's comments recorded in the Matt. 5:40-42 "If someone forces you go one mile, go with him two miles."

Roman law stated that a Roman soldier could place the flat portion of the tip of his spear on any person’s shoulder and then command them to carry his gear up to one mile.

Christ said, we should not only go the first mile, what is required under the law (and at that a pagan law), but we should go the second mile — do what the law states again, a new, repeated. This is how we get beyond what the law requires, by doing the law and then doing the law again for Christ. This is how we transform even a pagan law into the law of Christ.

It is in the second mile that we find liberty, freedom and even justice. It is in the second mile that we find service to Christ. It is by doing the second mile that the first mile is transformed.

It is here we find the fundamental truth of life — that we can only get to the second mile after we have completed the first mile. The first mile under the law; the second, while still in the law, yet free from the law, when in service to Christ.

It is sad that many, in an attempt to find freedom from the law, never obey the law and thus never go the first mile. By never going the first mile, they cut themselves off from the opportunity to go the second mile and all the blessings the first and second mile contain.
 

© 2010, VoiceWind. . .Greg Loveless. All rights reserved.

Why It’s Never Crowded Along the Extra Mile is a post from: VoiceWind - Greg Loveless

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"I understanding all comments above and both arguments have good sides. However, if self employed , how do you tithe especially I know is a no no – but if not yet on regular personal income as owner. You depend on "if money" or "when ever" money comes in scenario to pay for personal bills. Honestly I battle with this because I live a hand to mouth lifestyle. Most times when money comes in I am completely broke and buried under a mountain of bills (personal and business). I feel more obliged to pay my bills as a matter of urgency. Then i end up on a guilty trip if left with no "Tithe'."

In response I mentioned that "even this author (me), to one extent or another, stands outside the full share of what God has for us in Christ."

I also struggle with the tithe as well. My wife and I are both self employed and have seen a decline in income recently. However, my point is although we can argue to remove the requirement of the tithe and find some pshycological comfort, this is not the Spiritual reality, as a result we will find no lasting peace in this approach.

Rather, what we need to do is accept the requirement of the tithe and our inability to live up to it. Then we can ask God to guide us to a point in our spiritual life, personal life and business life so that we can make the changes to move to a point where we can tithe and thus share in this blessing.

Jennifer, the fact that you feel the pull means you are sensitive to the leading of the Spirit. And the Spirit would not have this impact if there was not also a way to achieve the goal.

Our prayers are with you. Prepare for His activity to allow you to reach resolution and peace.

In Christ.

Greg Loveless

© 2010, VoiceWind. . .Greg Loveless. All rights reserved.

Freedom in Christ Does Not Equal Freedom from the Tithe is a post from: VoiceWind - Greg Loveless

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