Love

This is a repost. I've done that over the years, but usually it's been months or even years between the two posts.  This one is less than a week old. I neglected to 'share' this post - to let readers know it was available - and it has not received as many hits as more recent blogs.  Regrettable, for God's message of love is the center of Christianity and that message is not being heard far and wide.  Take a moment more and look for love in all the right places.

FreeDigitalPhotos.net "Cross Religion In The Hand" by Luigi Diamanti

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10 KJV)

Did you know that the lawsuit that brought the decision on gay marriage was filed based on inheritance taxes? Had the federal government had allowed civil unions the same tax deductions, the decision would have been different. We’re back to money.

The one person who explained to me the reason for her abortion was specific – she could not afford another child. We’re back to money.

These two issues have literally divided our country, but there are more.

Wars appear to be fought for ideology – but how many can be traced to a battle for power, which can be translated into money, can’t it? How many battles within family really comes down to money, too?

We should be concerned that the desire for what money can – or cannot – buy will have us err from our faith. I trust the Bible. I believe it will pierce us through with many sorrows.

So – what should a Christian do when we discover that we really do love money? Perhaps it has brought us sorrow, too. What should we do?

Strangely enough, the answer is:  LOVE.

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:35-40 KJV)

Yes, I’ve used that one before, so let’s look at another verse:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

He loved us first, the Bible says so:

We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 KJV)

And, it says we’re supposed to work toward being as He is, in love:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4 KJV)

If we don’t love, there’s a problem:

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (1 John 4:20-21 KJV)

Then we’re at the question, “Who is my brother?” Pretty much answered by Christ:

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. (Matthew 12:50 KJV)

Wait a minute, Christian – don’t jump to conclusions. That doesn’t mean we only love other Christians. Remember when you weren’t in His will? He loved you then, too. Weren’t there other of His children ready to be of help, ready to love you enough to show you just how much He loved you? Can you do that, too? Love the unloved, the unlovable, share God’s love?  If not, take another look at 1 John 4:20-21.