Spending Time Loving Others

Examining God’s Word

Evaluating Our Garden

Loving others takes time. And, the question on my mind is, “How much time should I spend loving others?” I’m especially thinking about when it comes to spending time on or with those who don’t respect or reciprocate the efforts.

How long should we hold someone’s hand through a season of crisis? How many times should we reach out or bend over backwards to help someone out of a bind or give them our shoulder or support?

As I began to review what God’s word said, it became clear…

Experiencing Seasons

I find myself in a unique season and frame of mind right now about how I spend my time. So many things have changed for me over the past number of years with my home and work responsibilities, and with family, friends, and church relationships that I struggle with how to best use my time.

Maybe it’s because I’m getting older and want to make good use of the season I’m in. My desires have changed and I want whatever I do, by myself or with others, to be useful, enjoyable, and beneficial to my life and theirs.

Embracing Solace

Spending time with those who I know love me has always brought me a sense of comfort. It doesn’t matter where we are or what we’re doing. When there is love between us, I’m content just being in the same room, sitting at the same table, working on the same project, helping with a job or event, or just visiting over a cup of tea together. Companionship fueled by love can bring solace in unique ways.

Enjoying Simplicity

The hate permeating our world has complicated the simple gesture of showing love. Love costs nothing to share. It eases pain, strengthens relationships, gives security, inspires motivation, and encourages growth.

Employing Solutions

The more I searched God’s Word; I found the answer to my question. We are to love and help others every day. Period. Everyone needs to feel loved and cared for and some more than others at times.

What I’ve learned from God’s instructions is that we are to love others beyond loving Him and our families. Review the following verses with me:

• Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:35 – Love your enemies –
  Pray for, do good to, and bless them that:
  • curse you
  • hate you
  • despitefully use you
  • persecute you
• Matthew 19:19, 22:39, Mark 12:3 – Love thy neighbor as thyself.
• John 13:34, Romans 12:10, 13:8-9 – Love one another as God loves us.
  This includes:
  • Don’t commit adultery
  • Don’t kill
  • Don’t steal
  • Don’t bear false witness
  • Don’t covet

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour:
therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
Romans 13:10

Here are a few ways I’m trying to love more:

• Determining available time
• Evaluating others’ needs
• Scheduling time to help
• Spending quality moments
• Giving an ear
• Sharing a smile or hug
• Shedding a tear
• Lending a hand
• Offering up a prayer

Oh, why can’t we all learn and obey this? Why would we want to break the Creator’s law and spread evil, hate, and chaos to those around us? We could change the world by purposing to truly love those in our circles, churches, and communities. True love only takes a minute.

Bring It Home

How could you love on someone you know today?

Praying for you as we grow together,
Smiles, BRC