Love One Another: Avoid Alienation

Psalm 133:1 celebrates the unity of believers, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to live together in unity!” Jesus prayed for the unity of believers throughout the ages, “that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You” (John 17:21). Our unity is evidence that Jesus was sent by Yehovah (John 17:21) and that we are truly His disciples (John 13:35).

There are over twenty verses in the New Testament that specifically command us to “love one another.” We are told “let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:18). Jesus performed the most loving deed in history – He died for all people even though they were His enemies (Romans 5:10). Therefore, He gives us a very high standard to meet when He says, “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

Love is expressed through our attitudes and actions. Our attitudes create the environment in which love flourishes. Our actions demonstrate our love by what we choose to do for those we love and the actions we avoid because they would harm the ones we claim to love.

There are actions we are to avoid because they would alienate fellow believers. These actions come from making wrong choices. The choice to esteem ourselves more than others (Philippians 2:3), and to put our desires ahead of the needs of others (Titus 3:1-2). These choices cause us to love others less than we ought to (Titus 3:3). All of this happens when we choose to see others through our human eyes rather than to see them as God does (1 John 4:7-10). Remember God loved them enough to die for them!

We are instructed to avoid at least eight actions because they would alienate our brethren. These include commandments to not: 1. Hate – that is to love them less than God does (Titus 3:3). 2. Lie (Colossians 3:9; Titus 3:1-2). 3. Judge (Romans 14:13; James 4:11). 4. Take legal actions (1 Corinthians 6:1-7). 5. Be contentious (Galatians 5:15; Titus 3:1-11). 6. Be envious (Galatians 5:26). 7. Complain against (James 5:9; 1 Peter 4:9). 8. Lead harshly (Matthew 20:25-28, 23:10-12).

All these negative behaviors occur when we do not love and do not judge ourselves correctly. Love is translated from agape over 100 times in the New Testament. Agape is defined as discriminating affection which involves choice and selection. Jesus chose to love us and to die for us. We are commanded to choose to love what God loves not what we have the desire to love. When we chose to love what and how God loves we will avoid acts that alienate others.

God assists us in the process of loving one another. Paul prayed for believers, “the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another” (1 Thessalonians 3:12). Loving others as God loves them, leads to feeling love.