"You shall love your neighbor as yourself"
(Matthew 22: 39)
In yesterday's blog I dealt with the Compassionate Christian's love needing to be demonstrated by listening and learning. Today's blog will be dealing with the last point . The need for Compassionate Christians to be more loving in there interactions with others.
3.
Compassionate Christians Love.
There is much in the Bible on the
subject of love. For example, the Gospel of John is sometimes referred to as
the great gospel book of love. The first book of Corinthians, chapter 13, is
often quoted as the great love chapter of the Bible. Generally speaking, God's
word is His love letter to the human race.
A compassionate person is one who is willing to go outside
him or herself, willing to go beyond his or her circle of friends to reach out
to the lonely and hurting people of this world. As Christians, we need to go
outside our comfort zone; by loving those who we feel are difficult, unlovable,
or undesirable to show compassion towards. Remember, everyone is deserving of
love. Since God is love, the compassionate Christian should be known by his or
her love for others. "Because the
love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given
unto us." (Romans 5: 5, NKJV). I am very fond of what Augustine wrote
long ago about love:
"What does love look like? It has
the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It
has the eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and the
sorrows of men. That is what love looks like."[1]
Oh that we as the people of God would learn to love others
with more compassion. Today's theme text brings it home to our hearts
personally: "You shall love your
neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 22: 39).
Noted Commentator Adam Clarke has this to say about Matthew 22 : 39
"Verse 39. Thou
shalt love thy neighbour] The love
of our neighbour springs from the love of God as its source; is found in the
love of God as its principle, pattern, and end; and the love of God is found in
the love of our neighbour, as its effect, representation, and infallible mark. This love of our neighbour is a love of
equity, charity, succour, and benevolence.
We owe to our neighbour what we have a right to expect from him-"Do
unto all men as ye would they should do unto you," is a positive command
of our blessed Saviour. By this rule,
therefore, we should speak, think, and write, concerning every soul of man:-put
the best construction upon all the words and actions of our neighbour that they
can possibly bear. By this rule we are
taught to bear with, love, and forgive him; to rejoice in his felicity, mourn
in his adversity, desire and delight in his prosperity, and promote it to the
utmost of our power: instruct his ignorance, help him in his weakness, and risk
even our life for his sake, and for the public good. In a word, we must do every thing in our
power, through all the possible varieties of circumstances, for our neighbours,
which we would wish them to do for us, were our situations reversed.
This is the religion of Jesus! How happy would Society be, were these two plain,
rational precepts properly observed!
Love ME, and love thy FELLOWS! Be
unutterably happy in me, and be in perfect peace, unanimity, and love, among
yourselves. Great fountain and dispenser
of love! fill thy creation with this sacred principle, for his sake who died
for the salvation of mankind!"[2]
One of the greatest verses on love in the Bible, and my
personal favorite is John
15 : 13
In closing, consider this heart searching poem written by a
seventeen year old girl who was martyred for her faith at Columbine high school
a couple of years ago. She was known for her deep compassion and love towards
others.
Up this lonely, dusty road,
I will find you.
Past the shallow and the cold,
I will find you.
Through this city's horrid fears,
Beyond the stream of fallen tears,
Over the mountain of endless hate,
Past this hell's dark, heavy gate,
I will find you,
I will find you,
I will find you and your love.[3]
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