Keep Displaying Love-It Builds Up - WHY LOVE IS ESPECIALLY VITAL NOW

Because life is "filled with trouble and sorrow," many in these  "critical times" suffer from various degrees of emotional distress.  (Psalm 90:10; 2 Timothy  3:1-5) Countless individuals feel just like giving up.  Estimates suggest that more than 800,000 people die every year from suicide-about one death every 40 seconds. Sad to say, even some Christians have succumbed to such pressures and have taken their own life. 

Back in Bible times, some of God's faithful servants were so overwhelmed by their circumstances that they felt that they wanted to die.  For example, pain-ridden Job lamented:  "I loathe my life; I do not want to go on living."  (Job 7:16; 14:13)  Jonah was so disappointed with the way things had turned out in his assignment that he said:  "Now, O Jehovah, please take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."  (Jonah 4:3)  Also, at one point the faithful prophet Elijah felt so affected by his situation that he asked that he might die.  He said:  "It is enough! Now, O Jehovah, take my life away."  (1 Kings 19:4)  However, Jehovah valued those devoted servants and wanted them to live.  Instead of condemning how they felt, he helped them to overcome their desire to die and built them up in love so that they could continue serving him faithfully. 

Even if our brothers and sisters do not necessarily feel like giving up, many today deal with stressful situations and need to be built up in love.   Some endure persecution and ridicule.  Others are the victims of criticism or backbiting at their workplace.  Or they are exhausted because of working overtime or  having to meet relentless deadlines.  Still, others deal with strength-sapping domestic problem,s, perhaps being the target of criticism by an unbelieving mate.  As a result of these and other pressures, many in the congregation feel physically and emotionally drained.  Who can help discouraged ones to keep going? 

Next time: Keep Displaying Love-It Builds Up - BE BUILT UP BY JEHOVAH'S LOVE

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