Wicker Park
I would imagine we are all well acquainted with the though that love makes you do crazy things. As my challenge for the Church for 2011 was to love more, it would be great to see if loving people crazily has Biblical basis.
Sometimes our problem is that we love, but we give people only a certain percentage of our love, and it involves so many conditions!
- I will do many things for you but not this, this and definitely not that!
- I will love you when I can be bothered
- I love you but I don't like showing it
- I will love you more when you do nice things to me.
Our problem is that our love is selfish and lazy and we need to kick ourselves hard to put this right in 2011!
- I will do many things for you but not this, this and definitely not that!
Acts 2:44-47
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Do you have any possessions, time, rituals that you just won't give up to or for anyone? The example of Jesus' disciples is that they shared and gave everything to each other and to others. They put others above themselves. This highlights the Biblical teaching of serving others -
Mark 9:35
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
- I will love you when I can be bothered
Luke 10:30-35
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.
So helping this man was clearly an inconvenience, because the Priest & Levite couldn't be bothered. These were people who should have helped the man. Not the Samaritan, enemies of the Jews! But this Samaritan went to a great expense to help someone with no promise of repayment or anything in return. Jesus used this as an example of loving a neighbour. To love like Jesus did, we should be making crazy efforts for those who may never repay us or even care about what we have done.
- I love you but I don't like showing it
Mark 10:21
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
John 11:35
Jesus wept. (at Lazarus' death and seeing the grief of his friends, he then went and brought him back to life!)
Don't believe the lie that it is soppy or sad to show people how you feel. Sometimes it is just what people need to be shown that someone cares and that they are loved. Some people have never felt such things. It is very hard sometimes and it isn't always wise to declare your feelings but keep on the lookout for any opportunity you get to bless someone :)
- I will love you more when you do nice things to me.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Need I say more?
