We live in a community that is
increasingly becoming selfish. The self has become a god and people will do
everything to satisfy the self. We are getting houses for ourselves , land for
ourselves sometimes stepping on others to get them. This has robbed love the
attention needed . Love has also been directed to serve self. We love others to
satisfy self. Even if it is not said, actions will tell it all. They say
actions speak louder than words.Lets have a look at what the bible says about
this.
Leveticus 19:9-10
“‘When you reap the harvest of your
land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of
your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes
that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.(NIV).
The isralites were to leave some of
their farm produce for the sake of the poor. This shows that God is concerned
about the less fortunate in the community. And in this case it was material
help that was offered. One thing that we can be sure is that we will always
have the less fortnate in our midst. Ignoring them makes us selfish and not
caring for their needs.
1 John 3:16-18New International Version (NIV)
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his
life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If
anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no
pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear
children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
At a point in His life, Jesus
had to lay His life for our sake. He gave out everything he owned even life for
our sake.
1 John 3:16-18 New International Version (NIV)
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his
life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If
anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no
pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear
children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Jesus gave it all at the
cross. The life he breathed he laid it down. Then we are told for us to love we
have to lay our lives for others. The Bible even shows us how to do it. This is
where love become hard , laying our lives for others. Sharing with others what
we have. Caring for those who cant repay you.
Finally
We cannot give what we don’t have. If
we have not experienced love , its hard to know how to love. God showers us
with his love.
Ephesian 3:16-19
6 I pray that out of his
glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your
inner being, 17 so
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being
rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy
people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
19 and to know this love
that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the
fullness of God.
Paul prayed that the ephesians would experience
God in depth , width , height and leght.
That during the best moments of their lives, the worst moments of their lives
they would experience His love. When they are stretched by life or compressed
by the happenings, during those moments they would experience his love. Only
then would they be able to share the love to the rich, to the poor, to the
happy , to the distressed.
My challenge is that each one of us would
get to experience that love and then share it. In a world that love has
been translated to self , may we
translate it to selflessness. That it shall be more than words. We shall share
with the poor. We shall share our Joy.
