WHAT WE ARE DESIGNED FOR

Recently while re-reading ‘Meditations’ by Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher, I saw this in Book 9 Number 42:

“What else do you want from helping someone out? Isn’t enough that you’ve done what your nature demands? You want a salary for it too? As if your eyes expected a reward for seeing, or your feet for walking. That’s what they were made for. By doing what they were designed to do, they are performing their function. Whereas humans were made to help others. And when we do help others…or help them do something…we’re doing what we were designed for. We perform our function.”

We are ‘doing what our nature demands’ when we help and serve others. We don’t need a Bible verse to know to do this. We were designed for it. Perhaps the best proof of this is how non-festive and non-enthralling it is to prepare food, drink and conversation only for our self. It is not normal function even if we live alone; we go to others to share our life with theirs. It is because we are meant to be together and associated…in fellowship with others at some level. It is not like it is some big deal… ‘We’re doing what we were designed for…we perform our function.’

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” Jesus