REFERENCE SCRIPTURE: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) NIV.
FOUNDATION: This topic has to do with love. Right from time immemorial, people have seen love from diverse perspectives. Love is seen as a strong affection for another. It is also seen as a bond between two or more people. Love could as well be taken to mean the inner feeling that makes people to care about the welfare of others. But for Christians, love is deeper than all of these.
The Bible has painted a clear picture of what love actually is in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7. It says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.” (NIV).
Speaking in Matthew 22:37-40; Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.” It will interest you to note that there is no law against love. God will not be dishonoured because you loved Him, your family members, friends, neighbours, colleagues or even your enemies. Remember that a Christians being faithful, grateful, patient, kind, forgiving, content, humble, respectful or truthful are attributable to love.
LESSONS
Why People Find it Difficult to Love: One of the two greatest commandments by Jesus is in Mark 12:31: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Unfortunately, many Christians find it difficult to love people, especially those who hurt them. Love is the unique nature of God. 1 John 4:8 says, “But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” It is also recorded in 1 John 4:16 that “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. “ Love is too sacred to be handled with human sense. Accordingly, the Bible has taught us (1) what love is (2) how to love. 1 John 5:3 says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” You cannot love without keeping His commandment. Do not see obedience of God’s word as a burden. On how to love, Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Love must not be determined by the actions, behavior or character of people. Just love unconditionally. That is to say, love people, whether they like you or not, hate or seek your hurt. Do not also wait for those who have hurt you to apologise before forgiving and loving them.
How to Make People Love You: Many Christians complain of people not loving them in spite of all they do. Jesus taught in Matthew 7:12, “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets.” (NIV). You cannot hate people and expect others to love you. If you are someone who hates people but people still love you; know that the love is not genuine. It is eye-service. They do eye-service for either the position you occupy or the influence you have over their lives. Sow genuine love and reap genuine love in return. There is no short cut to being genuinely loved.
Love-Inspired Behaviour: If as a Christian, you do not look at human actions through the prism of love, you will always be bitter and find fault in people. As a result of this, you will not be able to love people. Apostle Paul has therefore admonished in Philippians 2:5-7, “In your relationship with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God: something to be used to His own advantage; 7 Rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the form of a servant…”
CONCLUSION: Living a life of love does not insulate us from problems. Even so, the problems will not lead to loss or death. Satan has whispered to many believers to stop loving owing to what they suffered for loving people. Once a believer stops loving, he ceases to be in Christ and automatically takes up the nature of Adam. Instead to stop loving people, Jesus taught in Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Read Ephesians 6:13-18.
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