Woman to Woman: Loving Others Well

In a month often focused on “Love”, with various worldly definitions and expectations of love, I turned to the one pure Love for guidance on loving Others Well.

Full of exhortations for loving others, the entire New Testament calls us to the task as evidence of our love for God. (1 John 4:20) While difficult apart from the Holy Spirit, ultimately God asks we love from the overflow of the fullness of his love within us.

We learn much about how to love others from the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus not only showed us who our true neighbor is, but how to love them.

Just as the Jewish lawyer faced his own prejudice in this parable, we face our own daily, as God presents us with opportunities for loving others.

Love Takes the Initiative

Three men saw the injured man lying in the road; only one acted on what he saw. Having business elsewhere, the Samaritan stopped and attended to the injured man.

Becoming more aware of the people around you, even during the busiest days, opens your eyes to needs. Staying connected to God’s presence with you, tunes your heart to his leading to love.

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:18

Love Offers Compassion

After taking the initiative, acting upon what he saw, the Samaritan drew closer and upon seeing the injured man’s true condition, acted in compassion. Both the Levite and priest saw the injured man but offered no compassion.

Compassion seeks to offer comfort, support, and presence, from a heart of mercy and kindness. How can you draw near to someone in need today providing the comfort of presence?

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12

Love Pays the Price

Remarkably moved by what he saw, compelled by compassion, the Samaritan used his own resources in caring for the injured man. Ultimately expending the cost of two days wages and the loss of his time, he further offered to pay for subsequent needs.

Love exacts a price. Whether financial, material, or time related, authentically loving others demands a premium. Often it may challenge our emotions, preferences, and prejudices, as God leads us out of our comfort zone.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Love Suffers Inconvenience

Loving the injured man required the Samaritan handle the bloodied, naked body of a stranger, placing him and personally supporting him on his own donkey. Additionally altering his own plans by taking the injured man to an inn and providing for his care.

While authentically loving others requires intention fueled by choice, God seldom nestles opportunities neatly into our schedules. At times authentic love is messy, demanding and terribly inconvenient!

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:7

Love Stems from Mercy

While every one of the Samaritan’s actions demonstrated authentically loving his neighbor; mercy ignited his love and drove his actions.

The center of God’s love for us, mercy compelled the Father to send His Son, who willingly gave his life to redeem us as his peculiar treasure forever. (John 3:16)

Mercy sees the hurting and binds up their wounds, mercy sees the hungry and feeds them, mercy sees the lonely and gives them the gift of presence and mercy sees the marginalized and offers them safety. Mercy impassions love to not only feel compassion, but to fulfill the need.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Ephesians 2:4-5

Apart from God, loving others well becomes impossible. Selfless, unconditional biblical love surfaces in the heart embraced by the everlasting love of God.

A heart surrendered completely to God loves others from the bottomless fountain of God’s love, lavished upon him from the depths of God’s mercy.

Make it Practical:

Which aspect of loving others well is most difficult for you?

What one step can you take today to love others well around you?