There were once two men who wanted to love their neighbor the proper way. One of them, although sincere about this business, allowed his heart to guide him. “I will relate to my neighbor as my emotions will tell me”, he thought to himself. It was all well until one day when this man’s neighbor transgressed greatly against him. Offended and very angry, the man took his neighbor to the judge immediately.
The other man chose to use his head and test his feelings so that his love for his neighbor was sincere and intelligent, not just sentimental gush. Sure enough, this man’s neighbor sinned greatly against him, as well. His emotions were telling him to act like the first man and take his neighbor to the court. However, after testing his feelings against the truth revealed in the Scripture, he chose to forgive his neighbor. More, he invited his offender to dinner and treated his as if he was a celebrity.
Which of these two men loved his neighbor appropriately?
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end. (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7;The Message)
