True Love Is Practical - "IN DEED AND TRUTH

 It is simple to quote scriptures about love and discourse about it before an audience, but practicing it when it costs something to the flesh and its possessions is another thing.  It is a surer test of the trueness of the love voiced. Sometimes it may call for us to give forth a little strength to do something for others  rather than to be waited on all the time. It will not allow us to be supercillious, putting on airs and, because of our position or education or material goods, expecting to be waited on without at least offering some help in return.  When it comes to doing something for oters, we should try to be first in rendering service.  "In brotherly love have tender affection for one another.  In showing honor to one another take the lead." (Romans 12:10, NW)  Jesus did that.  It was no idle word when he said: "Whoever wants to be become great among you must be your minister, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave.  Just the Son of Man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his soul as a ransom in exchange for many." (Matthew 20:26-28, NW) Trying to take the lead in doing honor to one another as servants of God will keep us from becoming  a dead burden, so that people tire of having  us around as guests over a period of time. We should try to relieve people of their burdens so as to free them and allow them more time for spiritual matters that they as well need.

Sometimes brothers may a burden to you, not in a financial way or a physical way, but by their conduct, their weaknesses and Christian immaturity.  But love should be equak too this.  "Have love for the whole association of brothers." (1 Peter 2:17, NW) That means not just praying for all the brothers thoughout the earth and trying to aid them in some trouble sector.  It means putting up with the brothers in our very own congregation in spite of their slips and failigns, and not getting rid of it and losing patience.  Our close, regular association should not breed contempt because we get to know  our associates like a book that has been read and reread. In an Antarctic exploration of 1939 the commader of the expedition during the long winter night.  Why?  Well, said he, two men might be best of friends, yet put them together in close quartersm force them to sit opposite each other and look each other in the face a long time and finally they will tire of each other, get  disgusted, feel burdened with each other and at least be unable to bear the sight and presence of each other. So let me occupy the observation post alone!

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