How We Prove Our Love

It is vital that Jehovah's servants manifest Christlike love.  But do you find it hard to love fellow Christians who display selfish traits?  Well, as we have seen, even the apostles argued and tried to promote their own interests.  (Matthew 2):20-24) The Galatians too bickered among themselves.  After pointing out that neighbor love fulfilled the Law, Paul warned them:  "If, though, you keep on biting and devouring one another, look out that you do not get annihilated by one another."  After contrasting the works of the flesh with the fruitage of God's spirit, Paul added the admonition: "Let us not become egotistical, stirring up competition with one another, envying one another."  Then the apostle argued: "Go on carrying the burdens of one another, and thus fulfill the law of the Christ." -Galatians 5:14- 6:2.

By requiring obedience to the law of the Christ, is Jehovah asking too much of us?  Although it may be difficult to be kind to those who have, in effect, snapped at us and torn us apart emotionally, we are obligated to "become imitators of God, as beloved children, and go on walking in love."  (Ephesians 5:1, 2) We need to continue to look at the example of God, who "recommends his own love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  (Romans 5:8)  By taking the initiative to help others, including those who have mistreated us, we can enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that we are imitating God and are obedient to the law of Christ. 

We should remember that we prove our love by what we do, not merely by what we say. Even Jesus once found an aspect of God's will difficult to accept because of all that was involve.  "Father, if you wish, remove this cup from me," Jesus prayed.  But he quickly added: "Nevertheless, let not my will, but yours take place." Luke 22:42)  Despite all that Jesus suffered, he did God's will.  (Hebrews 5:7, 8)  Obedience is a proof of our love and shows that we recognize God's way to be best.  "This is what the love of God means," says the Bible,  "that we observe his commandments."  (1 John 5:3) And Jesus told his apostles:  "If you love me, you will observe my commandments." -John 14:15.

Besides commanding his followers to love one another, what special commandment did Christ give them?  He commanded that they do the preaching work for which he had trained them.  Peter said:  "He ordered us to preach to the people and to give a thorough witness."   (Acts 10:42)  Jesus had specifically commanded:  "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you ."  (Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8)  Jesus revealed that such instructions would also apply to his followers now in "the time of the end," for he said: "This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come." (Daniel 12:4; Matthew 24:14) Of course, it is God's will that we preach.  Yet, some may think that requiring that we do this work is too much for God to ask of us.  But is it really?

Next time: Why It May Seem to Be Hard

The Watchtower, 1999