Next to loving God comes the duty of loving others. Most people find it convenient in practical life to qualify the scope of the law. In the ancient Jewish interpretation enemies were left out; they were to be hated. This made the commandment to love others easy of observance. Without any rabbinical gloss or tradition of the elders to justify us, while we preserve the text in its purity and read it in our Bibles with emphasis and commendation, it is seriously to be questioned whether we follow the commandment much more closely than did the religionists of our Lord’s time.
There are some people whom it is not hard to love, and to whom it is quite easy to be kindly affectioned. They are congenial and to our taste. We are drawn to them by their amiable qualities or charming manners, or their treatment of us is so kind and generous as to win our affection. It is easy to love such.
But there are others to whom we are not thus naturally attracted. They are not congenial – perhaps not amiable. They have unlovely or disagreeable traits. Certain faults mar the beauty of their characters or they treat us rudely and unkindly. It is by no means easy for us to bear ourselves toward such with all of love’s patience, gentleness, thoughtfulness and helpfulness. And yet it is this that is required of those who would walk in the footsteps of the Lord. Sinners love those who love them. Sinners do good to those who do good to them. Sinners lend to those of whom they hope to receive again. But we are to do more. We are to love our enemies. We are not to select from the mass about us a few to whom the law of love is to be applied. We are to have our special friends, just as Jesus had, to whom our hearts and lives may turn for that deep companionship which all pure and true souls crave; but, like him also, we are to love all and show to all love’s holiest offices.
It is not enough to have the love in the heart; we need to look also to its expression. In the bare, jagged trees that stand like naked skeletons in the early spring days there are thousands of intentions of leaf and fruit, but the are folded up and hidden away in unopened buds. So, I believe, there are in many lives thoughts and purposes of love which do not reveal themselves. The love is in the heart, but it wants expression. Oftentimes the very reverse of the kindly thought is uttered. From many a lip the petulant word or the tone of bitterness is allowed to escape, while true love dwells deep within the heart.
Page 1