The best part about Christmas is that the love people show to each other seems to dramatically increase. There are two reasons behind the love that I see shown during the holiday season. Let’s take one scenario and show the two reasons. Scenario: sad neighbor who sits alone for Christmas.
Reason One:
Some people show love to others to show the love of God. God tells us several times to love one another in His word. However, it is unfortunate that this love is mostly held for holidays. You invite your neighbor over to celebrate the holidays with you and your family. The neighbor leaves feeling less alone and that God sees them and loves them.
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-14.
Reason Two:
Others show love for the sake of themselves. They do not do good deeds or show love just to encourage others. You invite your neighbor over to celebrate with you and your family. You post photos of them with sweet messages about the good you are doing so they are not alone for the holidays so others can see how nice you are.
Here is a warning for those who do this:
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:1-4.
For the past decade+ there has been an increase is vlogs and social media posts about giving to the needy. Recording these people as if they have no rights during their hardest times is more damaging to the spirit. They are not zoo animals to be witnessed by others. The people that are being “helped” are your neighbors and deserve your love.
I know stating that the person is deserving of your love even though I do not know them or what they have done in their life might seem odd. However, when you consider that Christ died for you and me while we were still sinners, I find it easier to just love others without needing an itemized list of their sins. The reason does not matter for why the person is in the hardship, do good for the sake of doing good and let God handle the rest.
As always, God loves you, I love you, and I pray that you have a blessed week and a happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for you.
Note: Even if it seems like the good that you are doing is not helping others, keep at it. You do not know when the person that needs that good will see it and notice the love of God.
