TOWARD A GENEROUS LOVE

 

FEBRUARY 15, 2022

BIBLE READINGS



John 13:34-35

34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”



Romans 12:9-19

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”



1 Corinthians 13:4-7 

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

TOWARD A GENEROUS LOVE

We’ll never completely agree with another person on everything. Not a family member, our spouse or best friend, not even a fellow worshipper. The reason for this at least in part is that we are individuals and there is not a single person like you. This means there won’t be anyone with your exact viewpoint on life, politics, money, relationships, or theology. You are uniquely you, and so is the person next to you.

While this may be true that we are all different, we can still love others. Why is it important to love people that we do not agree with? Well, because Jesus said so. He said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34 NIV). When Jesus commanded us to love others, He didn’t say that we had to agree with them first. So, what does this Jesus love look like?

Love considers others first.
Love looks for the best.
Love shows respect.
Love seeks unity.
Love isn’t selfish.
Love offers the best.
Love displays patience.

I believe we likely all know that loving others can involve pain. Love means putting your heart out there for someone and they may potentially wound you. As many songs assert “Love stings, Love Hurts”.

Here is what Jesus invites us to do, He says, Love means being generous and thinking about the needs of others before we think of our own. Now that’s counter cultural, isn’t it?

There will always be things in our relationships that we “agree to disagree on.” It could be the way we do our finances—some of us choose to live debt free, others don’t. It could be when we decide to start or end our day—some of us are early to bed, while others stay up late. Some of us think 68 degrees is perfect setting of our home thermostat while for others 72 degrees is the ideal. Or it could be more serious differences that concern politics, social issues, current events, or Christian ethics. I believe, loving others while disagreeing with them at the same time is possible, not easy, but with God’s help by the Holy Sprit we can learn to grow in this area.


PRAYER

Ask God to help you to love those with whom you think differently ask him to show you where you need to grow in this area.