Love your Neighbor
John 13:34-35 (KJV)
February is the month of Valentines, a month that is dedicated to love. As such, it should be no surprise that I have devoted the entire month’s sermons to the subject of love.
There are certainly enough types of love to go around. There is brotherly love, love for family members, love for your husband or spouse, and then the granddaddy of them all, God’s love for man.
I would like to start this series with brotherly love, that is, love for our follow man and more specifically, love for your fellow Christian.
As I began a scriptural search on the subject, I soon became aware that the Bible is far from silent on the subject of love for our fellow man.
You may ask, why begin this series with Brotherly love? Well, because this level of love can be the most basic or it can be the most difficult.
It is also one of the most important aspects of love when it comes to maintaining unity within the Church and keeping the focus on outreach.
For instance, if you don’t love one another, how in the world do you expect to encourage anyone to join the “fellowship” here?
Additionally, if you have no love for your fellow man, then what will motivate you to keep the “main thing the main thing”. That being outreach to a lost and dieing world.
With that said, lets start with love for our fellow man. For many, this is perhaps the most difficult love of all.
Just yesterday, my ears were assaulted by the sound of one man shouting profanities to a car pulling out of a service station. Though I did not see what had happened to set him off, I must admit that I wasn’t feeling a lot of love for him at that moment (I was just glad that Will had shut his door before the profanities started flying).
And no, I wasn’t the car he was cursing at.
The question is, how do we love a person who is unlovable?
How do we love a Bin Ladin, how do we love a serial killer, how do we love a terrorist. (I know some of you are thinking, “you love them to death”)
While that may be the “just” punishment for them, but that is not the right answer. I did not ask what they deserved, I asked how we are to love them.
For the right answer to that question, we must look to Gods word and the example set by our savior.
OUR ENEMY
I will start with what would seem to be the most difficult group to love, our enemies.
According to God’s word, we are to treat them well. 21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. Prov 25:21-22 (KJV)
Why do you think the Muslims hate America so, because we conquered one of their countries and yet we treat them with civility and compassion. Where did we learn to do this? From God’s word…
To them and the world, this is weakness, but according to God’s word, it is strength and a blessing.
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21 (KJV)
Showing compassion when we feel angry is difficult, but it shows a high level of spiritual maturity.
Show me a person who is given to fits of rage and I will show you a weak-minded person given to the lusts of the flesh.
Jesus always gives us the best example to follow:
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matt 5:44-48 (KJV)
Love for our enemies is a point of spiritual growth that brings us closer to perfection or maturity in Christ.
FOR OUR FELLOW MAN
Gods word teaches us to have love and compassion for those who are lost and without hope. Once again I would invite you to look to Jesus for our perfect example:
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Matt 9:36-38 (KJV)
Not only does Jesus set the example, but he also commands us to seek out those who are in need of hope and salvation. As he told Zacheus, he came to “seek and to save that which was lost”.
He commands us to do the same. But where do we find the power to do this?
Well, first, God directed his love toward us: God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Ro 5:8
Once we receive Christ, then love abounds in our hearts from God through the power of the Holy Spirit: the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Ro 5:5 (KJV)
If you cannot find in yourself the ability to love others, then I would be gravely concerned about your standing with God.
Why, because according to God’s word, if we cannot love, then we cannot know God because God is love: He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1John 4:8 (KJV)
Without God’s love welling up inside of us as living water, we will never be capable of fulfilling the great commission.
So, when it comes to Brotherly love, we must love our enemy, we must love our fellow man.
And finally, we must love our fellow Christian. Now for some of you, this probably seems odd that I would even have to mention this. But sad to say, it is necessary.
This problem is nothing new for the Church, even the early Church suffered from a lack of love among the brethren.
Paul had to address this issue with the Church in Galatia: But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Gal 5:15-16 (KJV)
It would appear that Paul equates a lack of love or outright hostility toward your fellow Christian as a “lust of the flesh”.
Does that mean that we literally punch and kick each other? Well, while I have heard of it, I have never actually seen it.
No, we are much too civilized for such tactics today. Our preferred method or weapon of choice for damaging our brother or sister is the tong.
In all of my 20 some odd years of ministry, I have seen more damage and devastation caused by one wagging tongue than any weapon forged by man.
James speaks clearly of the power of the tongue to do great harm, and yet we wield our tongues as carelessly as a child with a cap-gun.
Look at what James has to say about the tongue: And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. James 3:6-9 (KJV)
James fully understands what Jesus was talking about in Matt 12: But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matt 12:36-37 (KJV)
We will be justified or condemned by the very words that proceed from our mouths, and must give a full accounting for each one of them.
What a terrifying thought that must be for each of us, but doubly so for a gossip and a slanderer.
To speak an untruth of someone breaks one of the top ten: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Ex 20:16 (KJV)
What’s worse, on the Lords list of the 7 deadly sins, gossip or slander falls at number 6, and the result of 6 “discord among the brethren” falls at number 7 and is an abomination: These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Prov 6:16-19 (KJV)
You see, discord is the opposite of unity, and unity is what God desires for His Church. Satin truly dances a jig when discord breaks out in God’s house.
So how do we maintain unity, by loving and holding each other up.
Thats what Paul teaches us in Ephesians 4: I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph 4:1-3 (KJV)
Paul also teaches us to be of one mind. Six different times he admonishes the early Church to be of one mind:
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Romans 12:16 (KJV)
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:6 (KJV)
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 2 Cor 13:11 (KJV)
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Phil 1:27 (KJV)
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Phil 2:2 (KJV)
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 1 Peter 3:8 (KJV)
You say, Pastor Greg that is easier said than done. Well, what in life isn’t?
You say, Pastor Greg I love that person in the Lord, but personally, I can’t stand him/her.
To that I would have to say hogwash, that just won’t cut it spiritually. Don’t look to your own understanding and selfish feelings, look to Gods word.
I want you all to look around this room, take a quick glance at everyone here. If you just saw someone you “can’t stand” (up to and including myself), then you are living in sin.
You might ask, well how do you come to that conclusion, well where do I start.
We are commanded to love one another:
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:34-35 (KJV)
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. John 15:12 (KJV)
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 1 John 3:23 (KJV)
We are to give love and honor to one another:
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Romans 12:10 (KJV)
We are to serve one another in love:
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Gal 5:13 (KJV)
Our love for one another is directed by God:
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 1 Thess 3:12 (KJV)
Our love for one another fulfills the law:
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8 (KJV)
We are to provoke one another to love:
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Heb 10:24 (KJV)
If you have been truly born again you will love the brethren:
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 1 Peter 1:22 (KJV)
You cannot hate your brother and love God:
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:7-8 (KJV)
If you don’t know love, then you don’t know God.
OK, so hopefully by now you are convinced of my point. So how do I fix a problem I have with a brother or sister in Christ.
First, you must make it a priority: And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:25-26 (KJV)
When you truly realize that you cannot be forgiven until you forgive, it will suddenly become a high priority for you in a personal way.
Second, Make it a point of prayer: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matt 6:9-13 (KJV)
If Jesus made it a part of His model prayer, then we certainly should too.
Third, go to them and work out a reconciliation: Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Matt 5:23-24 (KJV)
Forth, be humble, not judgmental: God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you... ...10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? James 4:6-12 (KJV)
I believe without a shadow of doubt the number one reason we do not forgive each other and reconcile our differences is pride.
We are too proud, remember on the list of the 7 deadly sins, a proud look is number one.
Let me just close with this thought.
The day a preacher thinks he is worthy to be a preacher, he isn’t.
The day a deacon thinks within his heart that he is worthy of that office, he isn’t.
And the day a Christian thinks that he or she is worthy of salvation is the day they need to ask themselves if they have actually ever received salvation.
God strongly desires that we love our fellow man. Furthermore, he says in I Thes. 4:9 that love for the brethren should be second nature.
This morning, I would say this, if you don’t know love, then you don’t know God. Start a new life of peace and unity today by inviting Jesus into your heart.
If you are already a Christian, but you have “ought against your brother”, then you are in defiance of God’s direct command and are living in sin. Your prayers will not be heard and God’s peace will depart from you.
Don’t leave this place without taking the necessary steps of reconciliation:
1)Make it a priority,
2)make it a point of prayer,
3)Seek them out, and
4)Be humble.
May God’s peace, joy, and love be upon you this day. Let us pray.
