Love Is Sacrificing Personal Agendas

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

Paul, in his first letter to the church of Corinth pens the characteristics of love in the 13^thchapter… Throughout the verses he writes and describes how important love is; however, it is one particular piece from this chapter that we will look at today as it relates to John’s writings in our focus verses today… This particular piece is found in the 5^th verse where Paul says, “It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” You cannot be rude to someone, seek to do what is best for you, and become upset when things don’t go your way or keep a record as to why it is that you don’t like a particular person and then say that you are so “in love with God…” There are so many people who openly profess their love for Christ; however, they often fall short in showing it when that love must be displayed not only upward to Him but also horizontally to all that you come in contact with… The rich man had a love for God; however, He was not willing to give his possessions away (show a love for his brethren and thus he fell short… This is why John says that a person who claims to love God but hate his brother is “a liar…” Ask yourself today, how is it possible to love someone without displaying it? Love is an action word and it requires movement beyond your lips… The question I just posed to you is the question that we must ask ourselves as a child of God… John records in this passage that we can’t love God without loving our brother; this statement is very true because the only way we can show our love for the Lord is by loving our fellowman… Our father desires for us to extend a loving hand to one another, He desires for us to keep no record of wrongs, He desires for us to walk in humility never focusing on our own desires… These are the ways we show our love and appreciation to the Lord… The next time you cross a person who wronged you, show forth your love for the father by seeking resolution; the next time you are offended by a brother or sister, show your love for the father by going to that person and trying to mend the broken lines of communication instead of allowing your heart and mind to be occupied with resentment and anger… Again, never forget how many times Jesus said that He loved His father, but more importantly, never forget that He demonstrated it by giving up His life for all mankind… Get the point? Love is an action word and John informs us that we must extend a hand of love horizontally to display our vertical love to the Lord… The journey of a Christian in the world is likened to two people who are married and want a child together but can’t stand each other! You can’t have one without the other… You have to reach a compromise, you have to reach an understanding, and you must develop an attitude of love towards each other. As a Christian you can’t pick and choose who you want to like and dislike, who you want to befriend and turn you back on, or who you simply what to do without! Jesus even takes it a step farther by saying that we must love your enemies! John records here that if a man says he loves God and hates his brother, that he is a liar… So many of us have taken the very will of God and tried to personalize it for our own goals and achievements. We have tried to mold the will of God to fit our personal lifestyle when in reality we should be doing the exact opposite. Love is sacrifice, that’s why Jesus said not greater love has a man than this that he lay down his life for his friends (Jesus was referring to all mankind, but also the same people who turned their back on Him when He was arrested and fled the scene)! Jesus demonstrated his Love through His sacrifice on the cross! If we claim to love God, we MUST demonstrate it through our sacrifice of pride, ego, and self-worth. Instead, we must show our love through humbleness to receive all God’s creation as brothers and sisters with love. Many people will come and go in your life (some on good terms, some on bad), many will tear you down, while others build you up, some will enjoy your hardships, while others mourn with you, some will hold you back, while others want to witness your success! All these people serve a purpose in your life and God loves them (hate the sin, not the sinner), the question for you as a Christian, is can you do the same? If you can’t, then this passage is meant for you…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!