Now, when Jesus was asked to define who ones neighbour is, he gave a very interesting analogy, the good Samaritan.[Luke 10:23-37]
It was not lost on his audience that the man he picked as their neighbour was from a despised foreign country. So yes, you are to love everybody regardless of creed, ethnic or class.
A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."
"What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?" "The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, "Go and do the same." [Luke 10:36-37]
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. [John 15:12]
Loving Man -Family
There are four types of Love in scriptures and one of them is family love (Storge). it is the affectionate bond that develops naturally between parents and children, brothers and sisters. Examples include Mary and Martha's love for Lazarus etc. [John 11:5]
Thus as a christian, you have to love your family members regardless of their disposition to you. You are instructed to love and obey your parents. And not ignore your family
When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her,"Woman, he is your son."
And he said to this disciple, "She is your mother." And from then on this disciple took her into his home. [John 19:26-27]
I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. [Isa 58:7]
Loving Man - Eros
This is romantic love designed by God for couples in marriage (union of a man and a woman). it involves both physical attraction and sexual desires. It is not wrong in itself but when expressed outside marriage, it contravenes God's will.
Thus an unmarried Christian should stay away from erotic love, and if of marriageable age, should go and get married rather than burn with lust. The single should treat members of the opposite sex as siblings with all purity.
Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as though he were your own father. Talk to the younger men as you would to your own brothers. Treat the older women as you would your mother, and treat the younger women with all purity as your own sisters. [1Timothy 5:1-2]
Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem, by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe--and you're ready. [Solomon 2:7]
I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a young woman.[Job 31:1]
Loving Man - Erotic love 4
Christian marriages are built on Agape and strengthened by Eros. Be satisfied always with the love of your spouse.
Do you know that scriptures says denying your spouse his/her marital rights is fraud before God?(1 Cor 7:4 Amp). Love your spouse.
Drink water from your own well— share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers. Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you [Proverbs 5:15]
..Rejoice in the wife of your youth... May you always be captivated by her love. [Proverbs 5:18]
The husband should fulfill his wife's sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband's needs. The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife. Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. [1Corinthians 7:3-5]
For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church..He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word... In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.[Ephesians 5:25-28]
Loving Man - Loving the poor
When we think about loving the poor, our first (and perhaps only) thoughts are to give to them. While it is good to give, the most important part of loving the poor is standing up for them. Ensuring that they have justice.
God wants you to 'speak up' for the voiceless and help the helpless. The privileges you enjoy are yours for the purpose of helping others.
What sorrow awaits the unjust judges and those who issue unfair laws. They deprive the poor of justice and deny the rights of the needy among my people. They prey on widows and take advantage of orphans.[Isa 10:1-2]
This is what the LORD Almighty said: Administer true justice; show mercy, and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.'[Zechariah 7:9-10]
No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you...[Isa 58:6]
Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. [Isa 58:7]
For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help. I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows' hearts to sing for joy. Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban. I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. [Job 29:12-15]
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. [Proverbs 31:8-9]
Loving Man - praying for others
One of the greatest ways of expressing love to others is by praying for them. When we commit others to God's hands, we not only give them our best, we also engage the divine in their affairs.
We should pray for our friends as well as our enemies, those above us and those below us, in short, we are required to pray for all men.
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, [1Timothy 2:1-3]
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. [Matthew 5:44-45]
We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.[Col 1:3]
Loving Man - love the brethren
This perhaps seems the simplest feature of love yet is so hard to find. We set the standard for the brethren so high (and rightly so) that very few ever meet it and you sort of hate those that fall short.
There is also the inherent dislike we seem to have for those of other denominations.
Beloved, every believer in Christ Jesus is your brother and worthy of your love. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.[1John 3:10]
If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters [1John 4:20-21]
Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. [Romans 12:9-10]
To be continued...
