Brotherly Kindness

Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was. He answered: Matthew 22:37-39

Matthew 22:37–39 (NASB95)

And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment.“The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Jesus not only answered the question but wet one step further and gave the second greatest commandment. Why did Jesus give the second greatest commandment when He was only asked for the first? The reason is when we do both we fulfill the law of God. The first four commandments demonstrate how to love God and the last six demonstrate how to love one another. Let’s take a look. Ex. 20:12-17

Exodus 20:12–17 NASB95

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Honor your Father and Mother. This is important because if you cannot honor your mother and father you will not honor anyone in authority. This is a huge problem today. People who have problems with people in authority will find themselves in trouble. For example, people that do not respect law enforcement will get themselves in trouble. If you respect authority generally you are rewarded. It begins in the home with your mom and dad.

You shall not murder. Jesus elaborated on this and said we should not be angry with our brother. When you live a life of anger it robs you of the joy that you can have from a relationship. Life is too short to live an angry life. I don’t men to trivialize some bad things that happen to people, but everyone is not against you. You are not a victim. Bad things happen to all people. Grow from them. Don’t let the actions of a person keep you imprisoned. Forgive them and move on.

Don’t commit adultery. Trust in God to give you a spouse. Remain pure until the day you are married. Don’t put yourself in a position to be compromised. Don’t watch things you shouldn’t watch. Don’t find yourself alone with someone you are attracted to. You know how to remain pure!

Don’t steal. Don’t take another persons belongings. Thievery will compromise a relationship. When you take another person’s stuff it is hurtful.

Don’t lie. Every good relationship is based on trust. When you lie, you compromise the trust in the relationship. When you become untrustworthy the relationship will break down. It takes a long time to build back the trust that is broken down by just one lie. Just tell the truth!

Don’t covet your neighbor’s stuff. When someone has something that you desire, don’t be jealous. Rejoice that your friend has what they have. Jealousy will destroy a relationship. You will begin talking bad about the person and try to get what they have. Rejoice in what they have and be glad for them.

The first way we can give brotherly kindness is adhering to the last 6 commandments that God has given.

This is just the beginning. We are to expand our brotherly kindness in action.

Grow in Brotherly Kindness

1 Thessalonians 4:9–12 NASB95

Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.

Paul lists 3 things we can do that will enable us to grow in our brotherly kindness: live a quiet life, mind your own business, and work.

Live a quiet life

Many people want to be the center of attention. They want people to see them and like them. These people tend to be people pleasers. They will compromise there integrity by doing foolish things to get attention. Sometimes they just lie or exaggerate about the stories they tell. This is the type of person that tries to “one up” you with their story.

It is okay not to be the center of attention. As a matter of fact it is better to give attention to others rather than try to get it for yourself. Focus on others and encourage them rather than seeking acceptance from others and try to elevate yourself.

A quiet life is a peaceful life. It is one that is absent from drama. Drama creates stress and stress creates chaos, and chaos leads to a loud life. A life that needs a lot of repairing.

Mind your own business

I don’t know what it is about folks, but we like to tell others what they need to be doing. We will even tell them when they don’t ask. Mind your own business!

Adults are grown people. They can figure it out. If they want advice they will ask for it. We are foolish to think that we can give someone advice without knowing all the facts and circumstances. Most of the time we don’t know what they have gone through, what they are going through, or what they should do.

Leave people alone and do not meddle in their business. Encourage them when they are in times of difficulty and if they ask your thoughts on something, give them biblical advice.

Opinions are flawed because we are flawed people. We all have them. Maybe we would be better off if we kept them to ourselves.

I would not like someone telling me what I should or should not do in my personal life. If I want advice then I will ask. I have certain people that have earned the right through trust and love that I can ask. I don’t need someone to give me their opinion.

Work

It is good to work. When we work we are contributing to the wellbeing of others. It also provides us an opportunity to help others.

When we refuse to work, we are a drain on others and have tendency to contribute to trouble. 2 Thess. 3:10

2 Thessalonians 3:10 NASB95

For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.

When we work we have enough business to tend to in our own lives. When we don’t have work then our tendency our to get into other people’s business.

Work is good because it keeps us busy and affords us opportunity to be a blessing to others.

If we will live a quiet life, tend to our own business and work for the good of others then we will be enhancing our brotherly kindness

Forgiveness

The highest expression of brotherly kindness is forgiveness. We both need it and need to give it. If you live long enough you will do something to someone that is just plain wrong and someone will do something to you that is just plain wrong.

I heard an interesting word this week from Robby Gallaty. He said, Everyone knows the difference between right and wrong when it happens to you!” When something wrong happens to you, you are keenly aware of whether that action was right or wrong. However when we are the perpetrator, we may not be as sensitive. This is why it is so necessary to give forgiveness. Because we would want it for our self if we were the one who did something wrong to another.

The number one reason we are to forgive is because Jesus told us to.Eph. 4:32

Ephesians 4:32 NASB95

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Matthew 6:14–15 (NASB95)

“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

These are pretty convincing scriptures on the necessity of forgiveness.

Do you need to forgive someone this morning? Have you been holding on to something for a long time? You can let it go this morning