LOVE IS THE BOTTOM LINE
LOVE IS THE BOTTOM LINE
Love; they say, covers a multitude of sins.
“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 NLT
Even Jesus Christ our Saviour, when asked by one of the scribes what the first commandment was, said it was to love God with all our being and the second was to love our neighbour as ourselves. He said no other commandment was greater than these. Both commandments are centred on love.
In the world today, it is clear that love is not in the picture all. Why do I say so? The numerous acts of violence, terrorism, cheating, corruption and the like, cannot thrive where love abounds. A man would never think of harming his wife if he loved her. A woman would never dream of cheating on her partner if there was love in the relationship. World leaders, politicians and government officials would never imagine defrauding their citizens if they felt any love for them. University dons would not conceive to engage their female students inappropriately. How about fathers, uncles and even brothers having inappropriate incestuous relations with their female relatives? Are they borne out of love? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
When love is absent in any relationship the consequences are very unpleasant and far reaching. In the book of Micah, chapter 1, the Lord expressed that He was not happy with Israel because of their transgression. And what was this transgression? It was idolatry. Idolatry meant that they had abandoned God in pursuit of idols. So God said “So I, the lord, will make the city of Samaria a heap of ruins. Her streets will be plowed up for planting vineyards. I will roll the stones of her walls into the valley below, exposing her foundations.” Micah 1:6 NLT When there is no love foundations will be laid bare thereby exposing the building or relationship, as it were, to rot, decay and eventually destruction. And if the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do? The people had no love for God so they went off in search of something else. You do not abandon the one you love even when the going gets tough. Therefore let us bring love in and preserve our foundations.
Another consequence of living without love is a lack of support. People will rarely be there for someone they do not love. “You people in Shaphir, go as captives into exile – naked and ashamed. The people of Zaanan dare not come outside their walls. The people of Beth-ezel mourn, for their house has no support.” Micah 1:11 NLT And when there is no support it is easy to get stranded. When there is no love there is division. “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” Mark 3:25 KJV Let us therefore learn to support one another in love. No man is an island.
The world would be a much better place if only the love of God would take root in every heart. But everyone is promoting a different agenda that has primarily to do with “ME, MYSELF AND I” or simply “ME AND MINE”. Yet that is not the will of God. It is written thus “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” Phillipians 2: 3-4 NLT God wants us to look out for each other. Let us do that.
We must begin to consciously make every effort to think about how our actions will affect others. Every evil or inconsiderate action does not please God. We must forsake evil; whether it’s acts of violence, terrorism, cheating, abuse of authority, inappropriate behaviour to our charges; they are all evil deeds. “Your own evil will punish you, and your turning from me will condemn you. You will learn how bitter and wrong it is to abandon me, the LORD your God, and no longer to remain faithful to me. I, the Sovereign LORD Almighty, have spoken.” Jeremiah 2:19 Good News Translation
Better to stick with love, if you ask me. All negativity has severe penalties.
LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER LIKE CHRIST DID. LOVE IS THE BOTTOM LINE!
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS ©