Love One Another
Introduction:
Clifton
Fadiman, in The Little, Brown Book of Anecdotes, tells
a story about Vladimir Nabokov, the Russian-born novelist who
achieved popular success with his novels Lolita (1955), Pale Fire (1962), and
Ada (1969). One summer in the
1940s, Nabokov and his family stayed with James Laughlin at Alta,
Utah, where Nabokov took the opportunity to enlarge his collection
of butterflies and moths. Fadiman relates: Nabokov’s fiction has
never been praised for its compassion; he was single-minded if
nothing else. One evening at dusk he returned from his day’s
excursion saying that during hot pursuit near Bear Gulch he had
heard someone groaning most piteously down by the stream. “Did you
stop?” Laughlin asked him. “No, I had to get the butterfly.”
The next day the corpse of an aged prospector was discovered in what
has been renamed, in Nabokov’s honor, Dead Man’s Gulch. While people
around us are dying, how often we chase butterflies!
Inactivity
is very dangerous! Listen to the apostle John as he warns that
someone has the desire, but takes no action. I John 3:17-18 This
type of person sees a need and says,” That is just not right.
Someone needs to do something about it.” Maybe that someone is you!
Body:
I. Love Defined
-
The
classic example of love is illustrated.
I Corinthians
13:4-7
-
Love
binds or cements all virtues together. We are called to be a
blessing to other people.
Colossians 3:12-14,
I Peter 3:8-12
-
Love
means suffering with others.
Hebrews 10:32-34
II.
Love Illustrated
-
See a
need and fulfill it. The good Samaritan did this.
Luke 10:25-37
-
Christ -
Look out for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:1-4
-
The
natives of Malta showed unusual kindness to those shipwrecked
with Paul. Acts 28:1
III. Love Contrasted
-
Is
hate in this passage confined to the idea of animosity,
loathing, or intense dislike?
I John 2:9-11
-
Can
hate also mean ’indifference’ or ‘lack of concern’? We may
not dislike them, but we aren’t concerned enough to help them.
-
Do you
reach out to others only when it is convenient or if it doesn’t
demand too much effort?
-
We must
show Christ’s love any way we can. Show our love and concern
for others. Practice the Golden Rule.
Invitation:
Jesus
told His disciples this: “Love one another. As I have loved you,
so you must love one another.” John 13:34-35
Bobby
Stafford
March 27,
2011
