Love isn’t just in romantic
relationships. Love should be everywhere in our life; in every relationship
with every person we meet. I know I find it hard to show love to some people
sometimes, but as a Christian we should love everyone we come in contact with.
We are told to “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a
multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8.
The Bible tells us exactly what
love is. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast,
it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily
angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but
rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes,
always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
We are also taught ways to love and
show love. To show love we should listen without interrupting-“He who answers
before listening- that is his folly and his shame.” Proverbs 18:13. To show
love we should also speak without accusing-“My dear brothers, take note of
this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become
angry.” James 1:19. Like 1 Corinthians tells us “love is patient” therefore we
should be slow to become angry with one another. It’s hard to show love if you’re
hurting each other out of anger. Proverbs 17:1 tells us that we should answer
without arguing, “Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of
feasting with strife.”
Charity comes from the heart; love
also comes from the heart. Proverbs 21:26 says “All day long he craves for
more, but the righteous gives without sparing.” If we have a loving heart we
should want to help others. Helping others doesn’t always mean giving them
things, it could also mean building them up with words or giving advice.
I have a good group of prayer
partners. We love each other and praying for each other strengthens our relationships.
Colossians 1:9 tells us that we should pray for each other without ceasing, “For
this reason, since the day we have heard about you, we have not stopped praying
for you and asking God to fill you with knowledge of his will through all.”
Our earthly selves want to complain
when we don’t want to do something, but complaining isn’t a way of showing
love. If you’re complaining about helping someone with a task, or going and
doing something that they like to do it makes it sound like you don’t want to
spend time with them. “Do everything without complaining or arguing.”
Philippians 2:14.
Don’t hold grudges. Grudges damage
relationships, and makes it hard to show love to one another. “Bear with each
other and forgive each other whatever grievances you may have against one
another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 13:7.
