Loving Costs.
A lot of people have a hard time loving people even though we often are rewarded for it. If I love someone through giving someone a compliment, that person will usually be grateful and say something uplifting back or start acting nicer around me. If I love someone through buying a person a meal, that person will typically want to buy me a meal, though I don't ask for it nor am I motivated by that.
There are many times, however, where I see the ministers around me get punished for helping. I have a pastor friend that knows he will recieve harsh consequences anytime someones asks for his counsel and he speaks what many are thinking is good for the person he is counseling. We live in a nation that desires change more than truth and will punish those who speak up. Leaders who have spoken up against abortion and other issues are suffering severe consequences. As people are scolded for speaking truth in love and reprimanded for sacrificial giving, how much less will it happen than it does now? I've heard that less than 10 percent of the American church gives in tithes and offering to the Church. When the Church in America loses its tax exemption, I wonder how many people will give.
With the underlying knowledge that much love is returned, I've noticed that people, including me, are still hestiant to give it. Even when someone gives, knowing that warm feelings will be returned, it still costs something (If I give you $1,000 for a missions trip, you will be grateful, but it will cost me roughly. How much more will it cost when people don't want the love you offer?
I may be making narrow conclusions, but my concluding point and principle is not. Do not love because of your circumstances. Make the resolution that you will love no matter what. I heard a Christian say that she could not tell a group of terrorists in the same hypothetical room as her that she loved them. To me, that's loving because of circumstances. We are called to love our enemies and as modern events continue, more and more people will consider Christians as enemies. We need to resolove to love no matter what. If that means you are a Christian and every warning, encouragement or discussion you have is thrown in your face, keep on loving. If that means, you are a minister and every sermon, counseling session and kid you're pouring your live into is thrown in your face, keep on loving. Right now, I believe we are in a season of easier love compared to what is ahead. I say we take advantage of that.
-Pradeepan
P.S.
If you're not recieving love from the Father daily, don't think you can give love.
Check out this link (it ties everything together).
http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=6498405&page=1
Luke 6:27-36
[27] "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. [29] If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. [30] Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. [31] Do to others as you would have them do to you.
[32] "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. [33] And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. [34] And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. [35] But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. [36] Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
There are many times, however, where I see the ministers around me get punished for helping. I have a pastor friend that knows he will recieve harsh consequences anytime someones asks for his counsel and he speaks what many are thinking is good for the person he is counseling. We live in a nation that desires change more than truth and will punish those who speak up. Leaders who have spoken up against abortion and other issues are suffering severe consequences. As people are scolded for speaking truth in love and reprimanded for sacrificial giving, how much less will it happen than it does now? I've heard that less than 10 percent of the American church gives in tithes and offering to the Church. When the Church in America loses its tax exemption, I wonder how many people will give.
With the underlying knowledge that much love is returned, I've noticed that people, including me, are still hestiant to give it. Even when someone gives, knowing that warm feelings will be returned, it still costs something (If I give you $1,000 for a missions trip, you will be grateful, but it will cost me roughly. How much more will it cost when people don't want the love you offer?
I may be making narrow conclusions, but my concluding point and principle is not. Do not love because of your circumstances. Make the resolution that you will love no matter what. I heard a Christian say that she could not tell a group of terrorists in the same hypothetical room as her that she loved them. To me, that's loving because of circumstances. We are called to love our enemies and as modern events continue, more and more people will consider Christians as enemies. We need to resolove to love no matter what. If that means you are a Christian and every warning, encouragement or discussion you have is thrown in your face, keep on loving. If that means, you are a minister and every sermon, counseling session and kid you're pouring your live into is thrown in your face, keep on loving. Right now, I believe we are in a season of easier love compared to what is ahead. I say we take advantage of that.
-Pradeepan
P.S.
If you're not recieving love from the Father daily, don't think you can give love.
Check out this link (it ties everything together).
http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=6498405&page=1
Luke 6:27-36
[27] "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. [29] If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. [30] Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. [31] Do to others as you would have them do to you.
[32] "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. [33] And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. [34] And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. [35] But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. [36] Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
