Spiritual guidance powered by AI and grounded in Scripture
Your Question:
How do we prioritize love when the world is against us?
Answer:
As a pastor, I've seen many people struggle with prioritizing love in a world that often seems against us. The Bible teaches us that love for God must come first, and then love for others, including our neighbors and even ourselves. This hierarchy of love is crucial in times of conflict, where we must choose between loving God or loving others. When the best interest of another or ourselves and the best interest of God come into conflict, love must make a choice. In such situations, love for God must trump love for others. In our personal relationships, we often struggle with loving others when it requires sacrifice or self-discipline. But true love, as described in the Bible, is a self-giving commitment or devotion, whether to God or fellow humans. On the human level, love toward others means sacrificing for their well-being without the motivation of personal gain. This kind of love is not always easy, but it's essential in building strong relationships and living out our faith. As Christians, we're called to love others as we would have them love us, and this requires us to put others' needs before our own. In a world that often promotes a self-centered and tolerant view of love, it's essential to remember that God's love is not just a feeling, but a choice to act selflessly and sacrificially. When we choose to love others, we're not just showing them kindness, but also honoring God. As the Bible says, "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). By prioritizing love for God and others, we can live out our faith in a way that brings glory to God and transforms our relationships with others.
Sources:
biblical critical theory
christopher watkin
introduction biblical ethics
robertson mcquilkin
right thinking in age of chaos
john macarthur
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