How Is Your Love For Others?

Adam Pogue

In Matthew 22:34-40 Jesus is asked a question by the plotting Pharisees,  "³⁶Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? ³⁷Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  There are 2 points Jesus makes that cannot go unnoticed.  First, our Savior states that we love God above everything else in this world and with everything that we consist of.  Secondly, is that we show love to our fellow man.  We should notice that love for self wants and desires did not make His list.  As a fellow creator of man(Genesis 1:26) He understands our ways and He knows how we battle with love of self.  So He commands us to love others as equally as we love our own bodies.

The truth is that we currently live in a culture that pushes the "me first" attitude.  It is in our countries very DNA to "look out for number one" and step on whomever you must to reach your own personal aspirations in life.  As often seen throughout the history of God's people, worldly views can and do creep into the church.  Brethren, we must point out and correct the lack of love for others in our lives.  If we don't it is only a matter of time before we will become lukewarm like the church at Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-16) or inwardly dead like the saints at Sardis (Rev. 3:1).

A daily routine can often keep our head down and our nose to the grind.  The problem with this is that when we come up for breath, we often notice that we know very little about the world or individuals around us.  Sure we have great lives, great jobs, good reputations, and fun toys, but what have we done to show love to others?  1 Corinthians 13 Paul writes with a common theme to remind us "...have not love, I am nothing"(v.2).  

How are you doing with showing your love for your family, the leaders of this church, fellow saints, and the lost souls you interact with everyday?  During the month of April, please join in each Sunday morning as we consider our love for others and how we can be more like our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.  May God bless our efforts to put off self and "...put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity"(Colossians 3:14).