For example, I read of warning people of impending harm to them as a way to love your neighbor, and to refrain from warning people as a love-failure. I read of expressing love with the mouth but pursuing selfish gain with one’s heart as a love-failure. The Lord says that service providers (shepherds) who exploit those they serve are love-failures. The Lord favors the service providers who seek out the lost, bring back those who were driven away, bind up the broken and who strengthen what was sick. Love-givers help people to recognize God’s Messiah as the transformer of people from love-failures to love-givers. Our Heavenly Father’s desire is to bring people to a place of peace and safety; to rain on them showers of blessing; to bring forth abundant food for us; and to be our God and have us as His people. He is a love-giver. [2]
Jesus Messiah is a love-giver. He was willingly pierced, despised, and ridiculed for our sakes to bring us to eternal salvation. He is the standard bearer for love-givers. He brings people to green pastures. He leads people in paths of righteousness. He restores people’s lost souls. He stays with people when they are passing through the valley of the shadow of death. He comforts people. He prepares a feast for people in the presence of their enemies to demonstrate His solidarity with them. He brings people into His house to live with Him permanently.
Evil empires are not built on the foundation of love for God and neighbor. Jesus described them as a beast that rises out of the sea to blaspheme God and make war with God’s people. They are comparable to the worst of predators. To a leopard, a bear, a lion, and a dragon! All whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world succumb to these evil empires. The Lord says that victory over these evil empires requires patience and faith in Him. [4]
So, how should we love God and our neighbor? How about in our business practices? Should we produce and sell products that destroy people’s lives? Should we get rich and live comfortably by deceiving and manipulating people? Or should we ask the Lord to show us how to produce goods and services that demonstrate love for God and our neighbor? Should we learn and work not only for our well-being but also for the well-being of those around us as well?
[1] Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:43; 19:19; 22:39; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8
[2] Ezekiel 33-34 “My servant David” of Ezekiel 34:23-24 refers to Jesus Christ
[3] Psalms 22-23
[4] Revelation 13:1-10
Jesus Messiah is a love-giver. He was willingly pierced, despised, and ridiculed for our sakes to bring us to eternal salvation. He is the standard bearer for love-givers. He brings people to green pastures. He leads people in paths of righteousness. He restores people’s lost souls. He stays with people when they are passing through the valley of the shadow of death. He comforts people. He prepares a feast for people in the presence of their enemies to demonstrate His solidarity with them. He brings people into His house to live with Him permanently.
Evil empires are not built on the foundation of love for God and neighbor. Jesus described them as a beast that rises out of the sea to blaspheme God and make war with God’s people. They are comparable to the worst of predators. To a leopard, a bear, a lion, and a dragon! All whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world succumb to these evil empires. The Lord says that victory over these evil empires requires patience and faith in Him. [4]
So, how should we love God and our neighbor? How about in our business practices? Should we produce and sell products that destroy people’s lives? Should we get rich and live comfortably by deceiving and manipulating people? Or should we ask the Lord to show us how to produce goods and services that demonstrate love for God and our neighbor? Should we learn and work not only for our well-being but also for the well-being of those around us as well?
[1] Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:43; 19:19; 22:39; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8
[2] Ezekiel 33-34 “My servant David” of Ezekiel 34:23-24 refers to Jesus Christ
[3] Psalms 22-23
[4] Revelation 13:1-10
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