Raphael Oye Taiwo
Love is manifested by bearing the burdens of other people (Gal. 6:2). Love gives one desire, courage and strength to lighten the burden of one’s fellow. Love helps one to do all one is worth to relieve others of their heavy burden (Rom.15:1-3).
In many cultures, especially African cultures, for example, when a person runs into a serious problem, his immediate neighbors, relatives and members of his extended family, are bound to rally round him and do all they can do to relieve him of his burden. This may take the form of money donations, and assistance in many other ways. Failure to do so will be viewed as lack of love, an attitude severely frowned upon, even punished sometimes, by the society.
If the people of the world can submit themselves to such strict law of love imposed by worldly societies and communities, how much more should the people of God submit themselves – not grudgingly, but willingly, of course - to their Lord’s law of love to help bear the burdens of other people.
Love is manifested by being kind to others (Eph. 4:32). One major way the Bible-kind of love is demonstrated is through kindness. Kindness is a proof, an evidence and sign of love. The people of God who have put on love are caring, nice, sympathetic, compassionate and generous to others.
The story of the Good Samaritans that Jesus told in Luke 10:30-36 emphasized the desire of the Lord for love that is kind in His followers. Jesus ended His message with the words, “Go, and do thou likewise.” May the good Lord help us to show love that is kind always.
Love is manifested by helping the needy (1John 3:17). The God-kind of love is willing to help people in need. It is not stingy, tight-fisted and indifferent to the needs of others. A Christian who keeps his heart shut against his fellow Christian or neighbor, who he knows is in need, has no evidence that the love of God to is in him.
Love is manifested by forgiving others. ‘Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.’ Col. 3:13. Admittedly, it is not easy for one to forgive those who offend one. The human nature desires revenge against those who offend one, not mercy and good things. But genuine Christian love forgives. Christians who abide in love don’t keep records of wrong things done against them (1 Cor 13:5). They forgive and forget (Mark 22:25; Luke 6:37).
