The Misused Love: Part Two

The past can most often lend an observant eye to our own difficulties. In the early years of Christianity, many initially gave attention Christians due to the love they displayed. Many Christians of the time would go to those in need with humility and compassion. This alone was what many needed to show that God was the loving truth that they needed all along. This is not to say that the message of sin and salvation was not preached. This is also an act of love which we will cover soon, but know this: God is love, and love shines through his children. Showing people such Godly love is showing them God. Now here is the question that begs to be answered: Do we see this love still expressed in the world?

Of course, there are numerous missions, national and international, that take place every year. Many are exposed to the Gospel because of such love, but does this love take place at home? In other words, do we live our lives expressing this love? What about the people around us who do not seem to need help? While we don’t regularly see small, malnourished children living in tents in our towns as shown in television commercials, we are still surrounded by lost souls that need to be shown the love of Christ, but fear so often keeps us from making that step.

Having our love stop at our family and friends is a misuse of what God has given us. Not only does it keep his love from spreading to the ones that truly need it, it’s an absolute contradiction of what Christ is, and many lost souls are misled by this. When a Christian is seen rejecting others and turning his or her head from those who are in need, it’s ammunition to Worldly critics. They claim, “Christians don’t practice what they say is true. They claim to love all but reject so many.” This misuse of love has caused resentment in some. Those who need Christ need his hand to reach out desperately, but if his children turn from them, what will these distressed souls feel?

This is the difficult task for so many. It appears impossible for some to reach out. I feel this way at times still. I remember in the past going to church in a bad mood, hoping no one would come to me to talk. I would be forced to smile and pretend that I cared about anything other than the reason I was there, which was to worship. Was I truly worshiping with that attitude? God would rather see me as a living example of his love to others than see me sitting quiet and still like a dead man propped up in a church pew.

Another issue is selfishness. Our culture puts so much emphasis on the individual and that a person has the right to all that concerns the self. I feel that this type of thinking can be poisonous to our true purpose. When we care only about ourselves, we are living in contradiction to Christ’s teachings. As he washed the apostles’ feet, he set an example of how to be. Christ came to serve; we should do the same. But this is not a popular attitude. Having a servant like stance shows weakness, and praise is given to those who stand up on their own, need no one, and serve no one. To express a Christ-like love through serving our neighbors is an illustration of weakness. To fit in, a person must show individual strength. All Christians should know that this is devastating.

Christ wants us to be dependent on the Lord and to serve him and all his children. I don’t claim that standing up for yourself is sinful, but allowing your personal selfishness to take over can give you an illusion of independent individuality. It must be understood that we are nothing without the Lord, that we can do nothing that is truly good without him. Knowing this can lead us to understand that by living like Christ, we will do true good unlike what the Worldly consider good.

How can we break away from this mind-set? We must look to God for guidance and see that Christ is the ultimate example. Just like Christ, we should all express compassion in ways that benefit. What I mean by benefit is not necessarily money. If you feel compelled to help others monetarily, then do so, but not all can. When it comes down to evaluating what is meant to benefit others, look to the spirit. It is a great thing to give help to the physical world. Do not be deceived though. So many people think happiness is found in the physical. Christians know that true happiness is found in God, so we should spread God to all. We should be concerned with the spiritual; therefore, we should work to assist those who are in need on the spiritual level.