Love In Action
The word “Love” today is commonly used, yet highly misunderstood.
Growing up, I always had an abundant amount of love to give to other people, especially strangers. I sat with people who were alone, defended isolated people, and gave my stuff away to other kids. I remember once when I was around six or seven, I had just gotten a bracelet from my parents, and another girl I was with had just lost hers. She was very upset, to the point where she was led to tears. At that moment, I felt a large amount of sympathy for her and ended up giving her my new bracelet. Little did I know, that a few weeks later, my grandfather would give me the same bracelet as a gift.
I was raised in Bible school and the Baptist Church, so even though I was young and didn’t understand God fully, I knew that there was something wrong with not extending help to other people, even if it meant sacrificing my own things. It just didn’t feel right in my heart. Acts 20:35 says, “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” It is more of a blessing to give for two reasons: 1) it means you have the means and 2) God will reward you. When I gave that girl that bracelet, I wasn’t thinking about getting another one or being rewarded by God. Instead, I was merely concerned with how that girl would feel; I wanted to see her happy.
It has been such a pleasure to revisit my younger self. God reminded me of this event to make it an example of how we should be treating the other people we encounter. This memory has led me to questions like, what would happen if we were as passionate about service to other people (including those we disagree with) just as much as ourselves? What would happen if every move we made, every interaction we had with other people was rooted in love?
This past week, God has brought me to a multitude of verses about love in the Bible. This word, brief and massive at the same time is repeatedly mentioned in God’s word as a big part of the foundation of our faith, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself” Galatians 5:14 ESV. This phrase is so common among believers today, and, in my opinion, it's one of the most difficult things we are tasked with as believers. From the beginning, sacrifice is portrayed as one of the foundational components of “love” (John 3:16 ESV). God loved us so much, he sacrificed his only Son so that we would not bear the brunt of our sins.
As I ponder on this reality, my mind is flooded with questions. What does this mean for how I treat my neighbors? Not just the ones I like or am comfortable around? How does this affect how I treat my friends that are atheists or agnostic? Muslim or Buddhist? Lukewarm? Those who practice witchcraft? Those who are gay? Those who have disrespected me in the past? If God loved me so much that He GAVE, knowing that I would openly disrespect his name and embrace sinful lifestyles, what does this say about how I’m called to treat people who haven’t wronged me as much as I have wronged Jesus?
Our flesh wants us to sit in feelings of resentment or self-righteousness. It prevents us from building connections and sharing what Jesus has done for our lives. It stalls us; keeps us cemented to the ground of pride. In efforts to not be lukewarm and protect our salvation, some believers have become haughty, thinking that we are not susceptible to the judgment that would come to other people if they remained in a sinful lifestyle. However, we forget that condemning other people and being prideful is just as evil as the lifestyle that the person we’re judging has (Matthew 7:1-4).
Whether we like it all or not, this is something that we have all struggled with, including outside of our faith. I remember that in high school, I wanted to be the best in my classes and extracurriculars. It got to the point where I wasn’t even concerned about how much I was interested in something, I just knew that being in that organization, interview, etc. would make me look good. This didn’t end well for me. I became violently burnt out to the point where my grades, attendance, and performance were negatively affected. I had to explain on my college applications why I was doing poorly the first semester. I wrote about the depression I had experienced but was unaware of how my pride had contributed to it. I physically could not handle doing everything that I was trying to do. In the midst of trying to look good, I was also taking opportunities from people who were a better fit, because of their skills and time.
My point is, we should not look at anyone and see them as inferior to us because we have been more successful in other areas or walked with God more than they have (if at all). This kind of judgment will not serve us well. I invite anyone to join me in radically loving every single being on this earth. Whenever a displeasing thought comes into my mind about myself or someone else, I tell myself that this is someone who God created in his image, just as he did me. I imagine God crafting this person and placing them inside the womb of their mother. Just this thought alone gives me much respect for them. We are all holistic human beings with various needs, perspectives, and experiences- the most riveting to me are those who have been hurt and rejected. The reality is, we all need Jesus. If we started with these thoughts rather than pointing out the things they said that we didn’t like or the clothes that they were wearing, we would start to do much better at loving people as we love ourselves.
I invite you to say this prayer with me:
Father God, I thank you for not only my life but the lives of everyone else in the world. I acknowledge that I have sinned when it comes to my thoughts or interactions with other people, and ask that you forgive me. I pray that you help me understand what love is and how I can execute it in the way that you have. By giving us your Son, you have laid the groundwork for radical love. May my heart be cleansed so that there’s no room for pride or haughtiness, but a place where you dwell within me. Teach me, Lord, how to truly love my neighbors, not superficially, but in action. May my actions reach the hearts of those that you wish, and that they may see you in me.
In Jesus's name,
Amen.