Hammer on Anvil '

A work of fiction (see Chapter 1: Wealth, Chapter 2:Relevancy, and Chapter 3: Priorities)

Chapter 4: Love

Finally, brothers and sisters, I ask you to always remember that the overall, overwhelming, undeniable message from God is love.  You have heard from our brother Paul that love is patient, kind, it protects, trusts, and perseveres.  It does not boast or dishonor and it keeps no record of wrongs.

God’s love can be seen in many places throughout His church in America.  You are adopting the world’s orphans, holding food drives for the hungry, and sending aid to those who have suffered through natural disasters.  This is the love of God seen on Earth!  Remember the words of Mother Teresa: “At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by 'I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.'”

However, also remember the rest of her words: “Hungry not only for bread - but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing - but naked of human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a home of bricks - but homeless because of rejection.”

My brothers and sisters, too often, you are forgetting to love!  Love is not a Wal-Mart self-check-out lane devoid of human contact.  Love is an active process that requires actual effort.  You have proven adept at packaging and shipping love to faceless needs far away.  And while God is working through those needs that you are meeting, that is not the end of love.  Love is also needed here!

Are you loving the homeless by sending a check in the mail to a local shelter but then passing the homeless man in the street without making eye contact?  Are you loving the poor by filling shoe boxes with goodies on Christmas but ignoring their true needs the rest of the year?

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  Should we be depending on Samaritans to do what God’s people will not?

Your neighbor is not only someone half a world away who you will never meet.  He is here, in your life, desperately hoping that you will follow the leading of God’s spirit and act!  She is the one whom God has placed here, now, and in your path because you are God’s body on Earth.

She is the one on your block who never mows her lawn.  You complain about her lawn, but you do not know that she is an elderly widow living on a fixed income.

He is the one who is a little awkward and so never gets invited to come along.

She is the girl with low self-esteem because she does not look like photoshopped magazine covers.

He is the one who everyone thinks is up to no good.

She is the one in your own home who just needs your presence more than anything else in the world.

They’re all real people.  That’s what love is – real people.  Show them the love that Christ truly intended.  Be Christ in their lives.