LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF; CAN A MAN LOVE GOD AND HATE HIS BROTHER ? – EP 2

CAN A MAN LOVE GOD AND HATE HIS BROTHER ? 

The bible says in (1 John 4:20-21 KJV)

“ 20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also”.

 “Brother(s)” in these context are your friends, neighbours, sisters, co-workers and family.

God is love, God loves us unconditionally, He sees us as we are, forgives our sins and welcomes us with an embrace. A person who can love his friends, family and other acquaintances unconditionally has found God. As a Christian we can never be complete in Christ if we harbour ill feelings towards our “brothers”.

If we claim to love God in all his mysteriousness we should be able to love his creations just the same.

 

Jesus demonstrated the greatest act of selflessness and love by dying for our sins on the cross of Calvary. His’ passionate sacrifice serves as an example for all Christians to follow. We have to lead a life of love as a Christian, a life void of hate, full of love and compassion for our fellow brethren.

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”, this is a quote from a Nobel peace prize winner Mahatma Gandhi, to caution every human being of the need to have a forgiving soul, to accept whatever has been done to us and move on because continued violence and hate will only lead to even more violence and hate.

In the book of Mathew, Jesus teaches us the need to show kindness to everyone; even our enemies. He teaches us to be steadfast in our love for everyone and anyone even when we are being persecuted. Also, he teaches us to give to he who asks, meaning give to the needy as giving is an act of compassion, a display of love.

The bible says in Mathew 5:39-41 KJV,  “39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42  Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Further in the book of Matthew, the bible compels us as Christians to pray for those who bless us and likewise those who curse us because there’s reward in doing so and because God loves everyone equally even sinners. We also as God’s children have to be like him and love everyone equally no matter the type of reception we get from them.

Matthew 5:43-48 KJV say, “43  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46  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? 48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”.

 So can you truly be a Christian without loving everyone and anyone unconditionally ? The answer is NO. LOVE is one of God’s greatest commandments and we will never truly be a child of God if we don’t keep that commandment to heart.

Content Credit / Ajibola Emmanuel Adebayo

Picture Credit / Christianity.com – https://www.christianity.com/wiki/prayer/prayers-for-protection-pray-for-safety.html
Vecteezy – https://www.vecteezy.com/photo/5207376-silhouette-of-a-happy-children-holding-hands-together-and-happy-time-with-sunset