Loving God, Loving People

There's an old joke that goes "I love the human race; it's people I can't stand." That's funny because there's so much truth in it. It's also a very sad reflection on the human heart.

Without question, people in the world are deceived and deceive themselves. But that often goes for Believers, too. Oh, yes, we can be very good at deceiving ourselves. For instance, Jesus makes it very clear that we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. As Believers, though, it's easy to become busy with "Christian activities" and convince ourselves that we love Him more than we really do.


By the way, the question of "Who is my neighbor?" is one that Jesus answered with the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:27-37). I've added that passage at the bottom of this Post.

When we love our neighbors the way God wants, we are demonstrating that we love Him. When we don't love our neighbors the way God wants, we are demonstrating just the opposite. This will sound harsh, but it's hard to argue with: When we don't love our neighbors the way God wants, our Christianity is shallow, presenting a false front.

Here's the kicker. We cannot love our neighbors the way He wants without having a foundation of loving Him. Loving Him rightly is the foundation that lets us love our neighbors the way He wants. If the foundation is a sham, the structure that rests on isn't much more than a mirage.

Here's how the Bible puts it:

If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? (1 John 4:20)

Remember this distinction, though: loving those who are difficult to love is not the same as approving their sin issues. We're talking about "agape" love here, not "phileo" love. Loving someone with God's "agape" love doesn't mean that I'm approving everything that person does. Remember that God "agape" loves you even though there's an awful lot in you that still needs to be fixed.

I pray Big Time that I may continue to grow in loving Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Loving Him that way is both a destination and a journey. It's where I'm headed. The further I go towards that destination, the more the journey transforms me and the better I will love my neighbor. It's simple, really.

I can't genuinely love people more until I genuinely love Him more. Loving God doesn't result from loving people. Loving people results from loving God.

Are there any groups or types of people -- or maybe just a single individual -- who gets on your last nerve? Do you have outbursts of wrath or contention? Is there a lack of kindness, gentleness, or self-control? These things are from the "works of the flesh" list and "fruit of the Spirit" list in Galatians. I've added the full passage at the end of this post.

So, if we have trouble consistently "agape loving" those around us -- even those who are very difficult to love -- it means that our love for Him is still incomplete. Now that's something to pray about and confess as sin and repent over, don't you think?

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These passages, along with many others in Scripture, speak to the issues in this post.

Rev 2:1-5 (excerpts)

..."I know your works, your labor, your patience...you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works...

Luke 10:27-37

And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."
And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.
Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.
So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.
He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'
Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"
He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."

 Gal 5:19-23

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.