Love Your Enemies
Give Wisely
LUKE 6:34-36
“And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
”Luke 6:34-36 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/luk.6.34-36.NKJ
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God is love (1 JOHN 4:8), and on the two greatest of all His commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
We believers are commanded “To love your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind, This is the first and greatest commandment; the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself (MATHEW 22:37-40; MARK 12:31).”
Your neighbor is not just the family next door, or those in your street, or village.
All are our neighbours, regardless of street, town, country, or nation, including all our enemies.
The practice of loving one’s enemies is modelled by God Himself; He is kind to the unthankful and the evil, just as He is the righteous; He is the provider of all.
Jesus put it like this, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48 NKJV
Love is far more than a feeling or an emotion, it is an action that comes from a duty of care.
Furthermore, It is in no way selfish, but rather selfless and unconditional; it cast out fear and comes from a firm decision to care for others, to make their needs as important as our own.
This decision goes against our natural inclinations to “put me first.” It makes no way for gossip or offence. But rather, true love, makes a perfect path to forgiveness.
But we can only truly love because God loves us first. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.”
I John 4:18-19 NKJV
This Scripture is not telling us to be foolish with our time and money; indeed, we need be wise.
Not everyone begging for money is in desperate need.
We are called to help the needy, not subsidise the greedy.
To lend to someone who is known for not paying back, or maybe planning to purchase something above his or her means that he doesn’t need, would be totally foolish.
Not only will you quickly run out of money, but those borrowers will never learn the true value of money.
Giving and lending including to one’s church, must always be by the leading of the Holy Spirit; only He knows one’s true circumstance; to give for any other reason is foolish and may even be undermining the work God is doing in that person or others.
Furthermore, not everyone needs financial provision, but all need to hear the gospel, but even in this, Jesus said, ““Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”
Matthew 7:6 NKJV
If someone doesn't want to know, let them go. Don't Throw your pearls before swine.
But to be merciful toward someone in desperate need, and lend knowing you probably won’t get anything back, simply out of love, is being merciful just as your Father is also merciful; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.
Though giving must not be because your reward will be great in this world, indeed, it may well cause you to suffer, but your blessings will be piling up in heaven (MATHEW 6:19-21).
But you can be certain that if God has put on your heart to give, He will fund it; His promise is to provide all your needs, and His promises always stand, but that promise does not necessarily extend to all our wants and fantasies.
Giving out of one’s emotions is foolish and may undermine God’s work.
Equally, emotional blackmail to extract resources from others is not acceptable, whether from the pulpit or an individual who may well be in need.
Of course my beloved, the church needs funding and we are all called to do our bit. But there is no place for a prosperity gospel in God’s Kingdom; therefore, be mindful of those suggesting that when you give, God will give you more back, or even double blessings.
But giving is an investment, not so much about investing in your worldly life of today, but rather, into your eternal future.
Sermons promising earthly blessings just before the offering basket goes round is a red flag and it is time to question the ambitions of the preacher.
It is good to give, but we must be wise.
Always pray into every situation, test the spirits (1 JOHN 4:1), and give only by the leading of the Holy Spirit., for fool and his money are quickly parted.
My beloved, having said that, love is the foundation of God’s way of life. “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”
I John 4:20-21 NKJV
Giving is an act of love, a duty of care, and a weapon of mass destruction against the enemy.
“Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.””
Romans 12:20 NKJV
It is the love of God that shall draw unbelievers to the Lordship of Christ. Therefore my beloved, shine for Christ by letting His love shine from you.
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
