The Father’s Heart – LOVE AT ITS BEST: When You Do LOVE Your NEIGHBOUR And The STRANGER!
“For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?” Matthew 5:46-47.
We live in a moment in history wherein lots of people are so much engaged and entangled with the spirit of entitlement at another person’s cost, thereby making it impossible for some to share love because they are expecting to be the collector of love and not the giver of love, as Scripturally enjoined:
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” Luke 6:38.
More so, because of the current challenges of the unstable state of the world, community, neighbourhoods, family and such like, especially in terms of the economic atmosphere, some people are so desperate and in such haste that the simple acts of kindness in relationship and in relating with others is diminishing. Such was the depravity of humane nature from the zealous Church folk – the Priest [Pastor] and the Levites [Choir Leader] – unlike the non-Church folk, the Samaritan, as in Luke 10:25-37. They were so carried away with their zealousness that they forgot the act of kindness of life resources [time, finance (cash/kind), etc] to use to help others in critical need, no matter how little [small].
“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to SUPPORT THE WEAK, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is MORE BLESSED to GIVE than to RECEIVE” Acts 20:35.
And many have become so committed to matters of – things and activities and programmes and such like – than having a humane commitment to their fellow human beings in times of difficulty. When someone is in trouble, people are more interested in taking photos to create content for others to applaud and make jest of the person, rather than helping to solve the problem of the person in trouble where need be, especially when it is within their capacity to help in that duration of time. You can see series of unwarranted and appalling images and photos on social media depicting people in situations that shouldn’t be taken, and more so displayed, but are out there – sometimes you wonder why the person taking the photo couldn’t help that child from a wicked maid or parents or leader or whoever, instead of spending time to take photos to the point of death of such an individual, when help could have been possible.
A genuine Father’s heart at its best is in loving one’s neighbour as Christ admonished the enquiring Lawyer about who his neighbour truly was and is, in order to do life and live godly in God in Christ Jesus’ stead Amen. [Luke 10:25-37].
If we truly want to get into the father’s hearts at its best, we should endeavour to be humane in the midst of our busy schedule, to love our neighbours as we do life and live godly in Christ Jesus’ stead. Amen.
SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:
“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to INHERIT eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how READEST thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt LOVE the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy NEIGHBOUR as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was NEIGHBOUR unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, GO, and DO thou likewise” Luke 10:25-37.
“And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 and thou shalt LOVE the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the FIRST commandment. 31 And the SECOND is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy NEIGHBOUR as thyself. THERE IS NONE OTHER COMMANDMENT GREATER THAN THESE” Mark 12:28-31.
“But the STRANGER that DWELLETH with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt LOVE him as thyself; for ye were STRANGERS in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” Leviticus 19:34.
SUMMARY
The message is THE FATHER’S HEART – LOVE AT ITS BEST: When You Do LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AND THE STRANGER.
It teaches that genuine godliness is not found in religious activity or busyness, but in humane, practical love — giving time, resources and kindness to our neighbour and even to strangers, just as Jesus commanded and modelled in the Good Samaritan.
KEY POINTS
- GOD’S GREATEST COMMAND IS LOVE FOR GOD, NEIGHBOUR AND STRANGER
“Thou shalt LOVE the Lord thy God… and thy NEIGHBOUR as thyself. THERE IS NONE OTHER COMMANDMENT GREATER THAN THESE” Mark 12:30-31
“The STRANGER that DWELLETH with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt LOVE him as thyself” Leviticus 19:34
Loving only those who love us back is not the Father’s standard Matthew 5:46-47.
- ENTITLEMENT AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIP ARE KILLING COMPASSION
We live in a time where many are engaged and entangled with the spirit of entitlement at another person’s cost.
Because of the unstable economy and desperation, simple acts of kindness in relationship are diminishing.
People now expect to be collectors of love instead of givers of love Luke 6:38.
- RELIGIOUS ZEAL WITHOUT MERCY IS DEPRAVITY
Like the Priest [Pastor] and Levite [Choir Leader] in Luke 10:25-37, many are carried away with zealousness — things, activities and programmes — but forgot the act of kindness with life resources [time, finance, cash/kind].
They passed by on the other side while the Samaritan, a non-Church folk, had compassion, bound wounds, and paid for care.
“It is MORE BLESSED to GIVE than to RECEIVE” Acts 20:35
- SOCIAL MEDIA CULTURE IS REPLACING COMPASSION WITH CONTENT
Many are more committed to matters of things and activities than to human beings in difficulty.
When someone is in trouble, people take photos for applause and jest instead of helping, even when it is within their capacity.
Appalling images go online while help could have saved lives.
- THE FATHER’S HEART IS TO LOVE AND SHOW MERCY
A genuine Father’s heart at its best is loving one’s neighbour as yourself Luke 10:27.
Jesus’ answer to “WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?” was: The one who showed mercy Luke 10:37.
Therefore: “GO, and DO thou likewise” Luke 10:37.
CALL TO ACTION
- Be a Giver, Not Just a Collector: Practice Luke 6:38 — Give love, time and resources. What you measure out will be measured back to you.
- Choose Humanity Over Busyness: Do not let programmes, activities and zeal make you pass by on the other side Luke 10:31-32. Support the weak Acts 20:35.
- Love Neighbour and Stranger Practically: In the midst of your busy schedule, endeavour to be humane. Help in critical need, no matter how little.
- Reject Content Over Compassion: When you see someone in trouble, help first. Don’t prioritise photos and applause over saving a life.
- Live the Two Greatest Commandments: Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbour and the stranger as yourself Mark 12:30-31; Leviticus 19:34. That is doing life and living godly in Christ Jesus’ stead.
Conclusion: If we truly want to get into the Father’s heart at its best, we must love our neighbours as we do life and live godly in Christ Jesus’ stead. Amen.
REV. CHUKIE MORSI