Love is Our Responsibility

Who do you Love?

Luke 6:32-36 ““If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”

Luke 6:32–36 ESV

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Loving those who love you is easy.

Loving those who you find offensive to yourself or others is not so simple.

Jesus sacrifice was enough for everyone.

1 john 2.2 “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Unfortunately, this is not the way many believers act. It is common for believers to view those who do not share the same beliefs as enemies.

Though it is the responsibility of the believer to lovingly share the good news of the gospel with everyone.

Not everyone will accept the good news but it is our responsibility to plant and water the seeds of the gospel in everyone God puts in our path.

When one fails to live up to their responsibility, one is basically choosing who is worthy of receiving the good news. It is as if one is condemning those they do not deem worthy.

The story of Jonah is a great example of this.

Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh, because he knew God was merciful to those who repent.

Then he became angry when God forgave them.

So one can see that this is a common thing amongst believers.

Are we like Jonah?

Jonah was called to go to Nineveh in order to give them the message of repentance.

Jonah viewed Ninevites as the enemies they were towards his people.

It was impossible for him to view them as neighbors in need of God in their lives.

He did not want them to receive the same grace and mercy God had given him and his community.

Does this sound familiar? Have we not been called to share the gospel with the world.

What is it that makes one hold back and make so many excuses not to accomplish the great commission mandated by Jesus?

This world has accomplished dividing communities, cultures, and nations.

Humanity has been taught to fear those who do not speak, look, or hold different beliefs than themselves.

It is as if we have forgotten that God is the creator, and those very things that can divide us should be used to bring us closer together.

There is always more than one perspective to every story.

Why should one be condemned when everyone is a victim of circumstance.

Clearly everyone falls short of the glory of God. No one is perfect.

Or are we like Jesus?

Let us look at a a very different approach to being responsible with our neighbors.

There are four occasions recorded in the Gospels where the Lord ministered to non-Jews:

The first account was at Sychar in Samaria where Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well and reached out for her and her people (John 4:5–42). The Samaritans were not looked upon with favor by the Jews. And a racial hatred kept the Jews and Samaritans so far apart that both avoided social contact. Jesus set an example of breaking down prejudices and showing the love of God to all people.

The second account was at Capernaum where Jesus healed the Centurion’s servant (Luke 7:1–10). The centurion, also despised by many Jews due to oppression from Rome, was touched with the religion of Jesus and his faith was more strong than those in Israel (vs. 9).

The third account took place in the country of the Gadarenes also known as in the vicinity of Gergesa (Mark 5:1–20) where Jesus healed the demoniac of Gergesene. This miracle proved to be a blessing not just for the man but later on for his countrymen as well. Jesus not only set him free from demons, but sent him out as a missionary to tell his testimony to others.

The fourth account was when Jesus healed the Canaanite woman’s demonic daughter (Matthew 15:21-28). The woman showed great faith in Jesus’ mercy, and her outstanding faith granted her the immediate healing of her daughter.

Conclusion

So one can definitely see the difference between Jesus and Jonah.

Jonah allowed his cultural views to dominate his actions.

Jesus went out of his way to minister to those who his culture deemed unworthy.

Take some time to meditate if their attitudes would have been reversed.

What impact would Jonah have had if would have been responsible and accepting of his neighbors?

Where would gentiles be at this moment if Jesus would have been adamant about excluding them?

Lastly, let us take a moment to envision what the world would look like if the majority of believers were to mirror Jesus?

Are we responsible with our neighbors?

Everyone has their own personal struggles and circumstances to overcome.

As believers that are growing in their spiritual maturity, let us not look onto others as enemies, but instead as neighbors in need of the good news.