Love of Neighbour on Miscellanea

Love is not affectionate feeling

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 09:16:00 +0000

Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.

Charity of Age

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

For myself, I find I become less cynical rather than more—remembering my own sins and follies; and realize that men’s hearts are not often as bad as their acts, and very seldom as bad as their words.

Love is Vulnerable

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 12:59:00 +0000

There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless-it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.

Sing more!

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 14:57:48 +0000

We need more singing!

Sing more and murmur less!

Sing more and slander less!

Sing more and cavil less!

Sing more and mourn less!

Tokens of a Little and Narrow Mind

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In effect, to be much taken up with the interests of self, to live upon the breath of others, to be full of resentment for every injury, and watchful to retaliate it; these are the properties and tokens of a little and narrow mind.

Gentle Spirit Required for Correcting Others

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

No man is prepared for chastising a brother till he has succeeded in acquiring a gentle spirit.

Ignorance of our own Faults

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 02:10:18 +0000

Ignorance of our own faults is the only cause that renders us unwilling to forgive our brethren.

In Humility

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 12:15

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 11:58:57 +0000

[Paul] did not abate in his love to them, notwithstanding their unkindness and ingratitude to him; and therefore was contented and glad to take pains with them, though the more abundantly he loved them the less he was loved, 2 Cor. 12:15. This is applicable to other relations: if others be wanting in their duty to us it does not follow therefore that we may neglect our duty to them.

On 2 Corinthians 12:15

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 01:36:34 +0000

This is applicable to other relations: if others be wanting in their duty to us it does not follow therefore that we may neglect our duty to them.

Tender Heart

Sun, 28 Oct 2018 11:14:47 +0000

It is only true piety which, during a long succession of years, will sustain the heart in tenderness to the poor amid trials and difficulties, and which will uphold the deacon in the unwearied, and sometimes unrequited care of the house of God.

Observing Your Own Failings

Wed, 12 Sep 2018 11:18:28 +0000

The zealous Christian is strictly observant of his own failings, candid and tender to the faults of others; he knows what allowances are due to the frailty of human nature and the temptations of the present state, and willingly makes all the allowances possible; and though he dare not call evil good, cannot but judge according to the rule of the Scripture, yet he will conceal the infirmities of men as much as he can, will not speak of them without just cause, much less will he aggravate the case, or boast himself over them.

The Fountain of All Duties

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 00:58:05 +0000

Love is the fountain of all duties toward God and man (Matt. 22: 37), the substance of all rules that concern the saints, the bond of communion, ”the fulfilling of the law” (Rom. 13: 8–10), the advancement of the honor of the Lord Jesus, and the glory of the gospel.

Having the Patience of God

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 01:00:05 +0000

Suppose your God should be angry every time you gave Him cause and struck every time you provoked Him!

When your brother offends you, restrain your heart until you take a faithful view of the patience and forbearance of God toward you, and then consider His command to you to go and do likewise.

To Never Speak Unfavorably

Sat, 31 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

He never allowed himself, even in the retirement of his own family, to speak unfavorably of the absent, and whenever any person told him the faults of another, he was wont to reply, ‘what good did you hope to gain by telling me that?’

Merciful Silence

Tue, 28 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

The Lord has mercifully kept us from the knowledge of each other’s hearts, any farther than we are willing to disclose ourselves.

If every man was compelled to speak all that he thinks—there would be an end of human society; and man would no more venture to dwell with man, than with tigers and bears!

A Truth to Be Observed

Sun, 19 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

This truth ought to be carefully observed, that they who are too rigid towards their brethren, provoke against themselves the severity of God.

Contest Among Christians

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0000

It would be a good contest amongst Christians, one to labour to give no offence, and the other to labour to take none.

The best men are severe to themselves, tender over others.

Yet people should not tire and wear out the patience of others: nor should the weaker so far demand moderation from others as to rely upon their indulgence and so to rest in their own infirmities, with danger to their own souls and scandal to the church.

Mercy with Cheerfulness

Sat, 17 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0000

… the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Training our Sons

Wed, 24 May 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Our sons need our training not to respond to unkindness with unkindness, but rather to remember Christ, who was never combative or defensive, but ever loving, kind, and compassionate.

Impeded acts of kindness

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 11:38:02 +0000

…for nothing impedes and checks acts of kindness more than when any one is too much swallowed up with himself, so that he has no care for others, and follows only his own counsels and feelings.

Be Merciful

Sat, 04 Mar 2017 00:00:00 +0000

For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

The Longsuffering of God

Sat, 25 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000

[The Lord] knows our frame and how to bear with us though we can hardly bear with ourselves, or with one another.

Could We Bear from One Another?

Sun, 22 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Could we bear from one another,
What He daily bears from us?
Yet this glorious Friend and Brother,
Loves us though we treat Him thus:
Though for good we render ill,
He accounts us brethren still.

Sibbes on The Best Men

Tue, 27 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

The best men are severe to themselves, tender over others.

Easy to Love in Memory

Fri, 23 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

It is easy to love people in memory; the hard thing is to love them when they are there in front of you.

First Among You

Thu, 15 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

…whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.

By Love, Bury Their Faults

Tue, 29 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000

How it is possible that one who is in reality distinguished above others can reckon those to be superior to him who he knows are greatly beneath him?

Let him… employ himself in correcting and detecting his faults, and he will have abundant occasion for humility.

In others, on the other hand, he will regard with honor whatever there is of excellences, and will by means of love bury their faults.

Footsteps of Christ

Tue, 02 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Meekness, patience, forbearance, and forgiveness, hiding, covering, removing of offenses—these are the footsteps of Christ.

Do you see your brother fail? Pity him. Does he continue in it? Earnestly pray for him and admonish him.

If you are angry, vexed, rejoiced, alienated from him, then you are partner with him in evil, instead of helping him.

Love Be Our Guide

Mon, 01 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Let pity, not envy… mercy, not malice… patience, not passion… Christ, not flesh… grace, not nature… pardon, not spite or revenge…

…be our guides and companions in our life’s walk.

The Early Christians

Thu, 07 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +0000

The early Christians, to the astonishment of their neighbors, lived a strange new kind of life—a life of honesty, of purity and of unselfishness.

The Greatest Kindness

Mon, 13 Jun 2016 00:00:00 +0000

The greatest kindness we can do for those that are fearful and faint-hearted is to pray for them, and so to recommend them to the mighty grace of God.

Paul’s Fervency in Prayer

Thu, 28 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000

[Paul’s] unaffected fervency in prayer is not whipped-up emotionalism but the overflow of his love for his brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. That means that if we are to improve our praying, we must strengthen our loving.

Eating and Christian Friendship

Tue, 19 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Friends multiply their joys by sharing them. One of the most basic ways is by eating together. Don’t overspiritualize Christian friendship; two of its most important tools are a fork and a spoon (or chopsticks for some friends).

As Christ’s ministry shows, eating together communicates powerful messages of love and social acceptance. When we invite others into our homes for a meal, the acceptance, vulnerability, and self-disclosure of hospitality deepens the joy even further. Friends become as family.

The Graces of a Good Deacon

Wed, 21 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000

To avoid friction between members, to promote happy pastorates, and to develope the grace of liberality, nothing is more important than a good deacon, one who can be patient, who can smile at unreasonable people, and speak a soft word to turn away wrath, one who is willing to give time and take trouble on himself, and make himself ‘all things to all men’.

Building Our Kingdom

Sat, 27 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000

It is when we love God more than we love ourselves and when we quit building our own little kingdom and start seeking his that we will love our spouse.

All Christians are Brethren

Sat, 21 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000

All Christians are brethren. The greatest men in the world, the mountains, if they be Christians, they are brethren to the lowest. And it fills up the valleys. The lowest, if they be Christians, are brethren to the highest; as personal differences, and differences in calling, they all cease in death.

Sorrows and Joys of One Another

Tue, 30 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000

True love will interest us in the sorrows and joys of one another, and teach us to make them our own.

Loveth Thee Best

Thu, 06 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

He that hates thy sins most, loveth thee best.

Effective Love

Tue, 23 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Effective love is rarely efficient.

Observe their Graces

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Observe their graces more than their infirmities. You cannot love them unless you take notice of that goodness which is their loveliness. Overlooking and extenuating the good that is in others, doth show your want of love to goodness, and then no wonder if you want love to those that are good.

Lewis on Love of Neighbor

Sun, 06 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000

The rule for all of us is perfectly simple. Do not waste time bothering whether you ’love’ your neighbour; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.

Small Talk and the Heart

Mon, 27 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Something as innocuous, as seemingly meaningless, careless, casual as small talk, when you take it apart, bears a freight of profound messages that every word you say and don’t say bears the freight of the overflow of your heart.

C. S. Lewis on Friendship

Tue, 31 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Friendship is the greatest of worldly goods. Certainly to me it is the chief happiness of life. If I had to give a piece of advice to a young man about a place to live, I think I should say, ‘sacrifice almost everything to live where you can be near your friends.

Job’s Friends

Fri, 06 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The best thing Job’s friends did was sit with him, weep with him, mourn with him, and keep silence with him for seven days.

Planning to Give

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Almost no one will give faithfully and generously without planning to give faithfully and generously.

Civility for Salvation?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Civility is a good staff to walk among men, but it is a bad ladder to climb to heaven.

Serve One Another

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

Singing

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Singing belongs to one who loves.

Commandments not Burdensome

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Walk Worthily

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Owen on Loving Goodness

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

If I do truly love goodness in rich apparal, why do I not also love it in rags?

Test of a Gentleman

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

This is the first test of a gentleman: his respect for those who can be of no possible value to him.

Love Builds Up

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Never stop reflecting on that maxim of the apostle, ‘Knowledge puffs up, love builds up.’