WHY is love so important for Christians?
Because of the kind of God they worship. The apostle John described him in
these words: “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) Just as many parents hope that
their children will follow in their footsteps, so Jehovah God wants Christians
to try to be like him. Thus, the apostle Paul urged: “Become imitators of God,
as beloved children, and go on walking in love.”—Ephesians 5:1, 2.
Love also balances the other Christian
qualities. In the days of Jesus, the Jews—particularly their leaders—were
diligent students of the Bible. But consider what Jesus said to them: “You are
searching the Scriptures, because you think that by means of them you will have
everlasting life; . . . but I well know that you do not have the love
of God in you.” (John 5:39, 42; Luke 11:42) If they had had love as well as
knowledge, they would have recognized Jesus as the Messiah. As it was, most of
them lost out on the opportunity to be among the first members of the Christian
congregation.
Thus,
love is the key Christian quality. Who should be the object of this love? Jesus
tells us: “‘You must love Jehovah your
God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’
This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this, ‘You
must love your neighbor as yourself.’”—Matthew 22:37-39.
In fact, a Christian’s love goes even
further. Jesus also said: “Continue to
love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you; that you may prove
yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun
rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and
unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:44, 45) In other words, a Christian’s love
embraces almost everyone!
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