Sermon Snippet – Love Others
INTRODUCTION – Over the last three weeks, we have seen from Scripture that love works, love sings, and love thinks. Today, we will see that love others. Yes, I am again using “love” as a noun and “others” as a verb. I am doing this to follow the format of the first three messages, and, far more importantly, to help us remember.
1. LOVE OTHERS IN THAT IT MUST BE DIRECTED TO OTHERS
I Corinthians 13 is the classic exposition of real love. This is a giving love, one that is always seeking the best for someone else. The list is not comprehensive (there are additional aspects to this genuine love), but it is challenging. It is likely that each one of us struggles in at least one area indicated here; otherwise, these specific applications would not be graciously granted to us. We must be wary of selfishness (an everpresent temptation) and superficiality (a particularly present danger in our culture dominated by social media). What God is directing us to is an entire shift of focus to others.
2. LOVE OTHERS IN THAT IT SEEKS TO UNDERSTAND ANOTHER’S PERSPECTIVE
The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) might seem to be the opposite of I Corinthians 13, an expression of law rather than of love. I reject that interpretation of the Decalogue. It is not a list of do’s and do not’s; rather, it speaks of rights and wrongs in our relationships – with God and with others. We know that “God is love” (I John 4:8, 16); thus, He is employing His commands kindly, in order to help us. We need to look at His commandments from His perspective: do we really want to hurt our relationship with Him by insisting on our own selfish ways? We also must consider others in keeping our Lord’s good rules: do we like being lied about or having things stolen from us? Of course we do not want others to treat us in these ways. We should endeavor to look at life from the perspective of others so that we can better appreciate needs and better apply Biblical principles of love.
3. LOVE OTHERS IN THAT IT DRAWS US INTO THE OTHERNESS OF GOD
Theologians use the word “otherness” to describe the fact that God is utterly distinct from us. It is a simple synonym for His transcendence. When we love others as the Bible instructs, we are doing that which is otherworldly. Love is a communicable attribute of God; thus, when we are loving others as we are taught to do, the love of God is working through us. We can all agree that this is a good work. The alternative is be “nothing” (verse 2).
CONCLUSION -I always like arriving at home. Unfailingly, I am met at the door with enthusiasm and loving kisses. I am, of course, talking about my puppies. However, even that affectionate greeting can not begin to match that which awaits each Christian in heaven, where we will see our Savior “face to face” (verse 12). We will then experience the fullness of God’s love, know that this love others, and agree with God that “the greatest of these is charity” (verse 13). If you have never asked Jesus, God the Son, to save you eternally, please ask Him now. His sacrificial death on the Cross was for the sins of others – including me and you. If you trust today in His finished work of salvation – His Crucifixion and Resurrection – you will immediately enter into an everlasting relationship with Him, and you will enter into His love, a love that always others.