Graduate 168: Five Reflections for the Church, Part 11
How to love people
Composed: 30 August 2009
Yesterday, at our men's ministry breakfast, we talked about what is involved in loving people to Jesus. A couple noteworthy themes came out during that discussion. Several people pointed out the importance of keeping a positive attitude or an attitude of encouragement. Oftentimes we'll encounter people in our neighborhoods and workplaces who are not very nice and extremely difficult to love. Their manner, disposition, or way of treating us just does not prompt that spontaneous flow of love in our hearts and may actually irritate or aggravate us. What can we do in those situations? There may be nothing in that person that strikes us as particularly lovable, so our love for them must come from a different source. We need to be carrying that positive, encouraging, compassionate attitude within us, so that we can draw upon it and love people even in situations where the circumstances are less than ideal.
Another theme that came out was the importance of being intentional. This is closely related to the first point about our attitudes. Some people are just naturally lovable; we meet them and automatically want to befriend them and be with them and help them. But the vast majority of people in the world simply do not elicit that automatic response. And if we're going to love those people, we're going to have to do so intentionally and deliberately. What does being intentional look like? Think about the friends and people that you spend the most time with? Are there non-Christians in those circles? Are there times at work, in your home, or elsewhere when you can simply offer a word of support or encouragement to someone? Are there needs in people's lives that you are aware of and can help to alleviate--even if it's not the most convenient or exciting thing for you to do? Are there people around you whom you can help, in spite of the fact that they cannot repay you or offer anything to you in return? Are there opportunities for you to go out of your way to help, encourage, and love someone?
As your thinking moves more and more in this direction, it's likely that you will feel less and less comfortable. Being intentional looks like it involves a lot of work. And that's absolutely correct. Any time that you do something that is out of the ordinary or different from the routine, it's going to involve extra work (and intentionality). And the simple fact is that most people's ordinary way of living does not include loving people--at least, it does not include loving people the way that Jesus did. How did Jesus love people and how would He have us love them? Consider these words from the Sermon on the Mount:
"You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matt 5:43-45. See also Luke 6:32-36.)
If that sounds like a tall order or an impossible feat--to love people in the way that God loves them--, then realize that God does not expect us, overnight, to become people who automatically love people in that way. But he does expect us to move in that direction. (Matt. 7:24-27) And as we take practical steps to move in that direction, God will meet us. When we come up against situations that are too much for us to handle, God will help us. When we fail or fall flat on our faces, we can throw ourselves on the mercy of the God of Romans 8:28. And through it all God will perform a work in our hearts, changing and transforming us from the inside out until we faithfully carry that family resemblance--as sons and daughters of our Father who is in heaven.
--
God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.
Composed: 30 August 2009
Yesterday, at our men's ministry breakfast, we talked about what is involved in loving people to Jesus. A couple noteworthy themes came out during that discussion. Several people pointed out the importance of keeping a positive attitude or an attitude of encouragement. Oftentimes we'll encounter people in our neighborhoods and workplaces who are not very nice and extremely difficult to love. Their manner, disposition, or way of treating us just does not prompt that spontaneous flow of love in our hearts and may actually irritate or aggravate us. What can we do in those situations? There may be nothing in that person that strikes us as particularly lovable, so our love for them must come from a different source. We need to be carrying that positive, encouraging, compassionate attitude within us, so that we can draw upon it and love people even in situations where the circumstances are less than ideal.
Another theme that came out was the importance of being intentional. This is closely related to the first point about our attitudes. Some people are just naturally lovable; we meet them and automatically want to befriend them and be with them and help them. But the vast majority of people in the world simply do not elicit that automatic response. And if we're going to love those people, we're going to have to do so intentionally and deliberately. What does being intentional look like? Think about the friends and people that you spend the most time with? Are there non-Christians in those circles? Are there times at work, in your home, or elsewhere when you can simply offer a word of support or encouragement to someone? Are there needs in people's lives that you are aware of and can help to alleviate--even if it's not the most convenient or exciting thing for you to do? Are there people around you whom you can help, in spite of the fact that they cannot repay you or offer anything to you in return? Are there opportunities for you to go out of your way to help, encourage, and love someone?
As your thinking moves more and more in this direction, it's likely that you will feel less and less comfortable. Being intentional looks like it involves a lot of work. And that's absolutely correct. Any time that you do something that is out of the ordinary or different from the routine, it's going to involve extra work (and intentionality). And the simple fact is that most people's ordinary way of living does not include loving people--at least, it does not include loving people the way that Jesus did. How did Jesus love people and how would He have us love them? Consider these words from the Sermon on the Mount:
"You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matt 5:43-45. See also Luke 6:32-36.)
If that sounds like a tall order or an impossible feat--to love people in the way that God loves them--, then realize that God does not expect us, overnight, to become people who automatically love people in that way. But he does expect us to move in that direction. (Matt. 7:24-27) And as we take practical steps to move in that direction, God will meet us. When we come up against situations that are too much for us to handle, God will help us. When we fail or fall flat on our faces, we can throw ourselves on the mercy of the God of Romans 8:28. And through it all God will perform a work in our hearts, changing and transforming us from the inside out until we faithfully carry that family resemblance--as sons and daughters of our Father who is in heaven.
--
God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.
posted by Metaphysician_delta | 9:23 AM
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