Three weeks ago we began a study of the valuable contribution that young people can and are making to the cause of New Testament Christianity and how we as adults should respond to their efforts. Today is post number four.
“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
I am firmly convinced that if more people, and particularly Christians in the world, more properly understood the Biblical concept of love most of the troubles that plague us would be resolved. Love is that single action/emotion that is all encompassing enough to reconcile severed relationships, unify broken homes, heal national strife, and mend spiritual dissidence. But the important thing is to understand that the impact of love is not limited to being reactionary. When properly understood and applied love can keep our relationships from being severed, our homes from being broken, our nations from yielding to strife, and our souls from dissenting from God. Love is proactive and highly effective to the work of the gospel when genuinely displayed in our lives.
Paul saw the greatest potential for impacting the world with love among the young. That’s why as he addressed the way that Timothy could be a respected Christian leader even in his younger years he said that he needed to be an example of the believers in love (1 Timothy 4:12). There is a natural innocence that accompanies young people in their affection toward others that is simply unmatched in any other age group. And when that love is felt in the lives of others there are some natural reactions that will ultimately result:
- Christian love will open eyes. In an age of self-satisfaction and inward attention seeing displays of true, self-sacrificial love are eye opening. It captures people’s attention. Before we can make any lasting impact in the lives of people around us we have to have their attention; and what better way to capture people’s attention than to do so reflecting the love of God out into the world around us. Jesus said “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). Rather than being known for our “shock and awe” techniques or our sheer blunt methods, wouldn’t it be great if the people of God were known primarily because we love one another! Christian love will open eyes.
- Christian love will open doors. As we capture people’s attention with love that will naturally translate into opening doors of opportunity by which we can reach people with the message of the gospel. When people feel that they are genuinely cared for they are much more open to discussing frank subjects like religion. The old saying “they never care how much you know until they know how much you care” is just as true today as ever. Examining the benevolent acts of Jesus a person clearly comes away with the impression that Jesus did what He did primarily to build a bridge in reaching people with His message (John 20:30-31). When we reflect the love of God as Jesus did we can have the same impact in the lives of others. Christian love will open doors.
- Christian love will open hearts. When we open eyes and open doors we are simply within one step of touching their souls. Of course we are not the ones who change minds and change lives. The gospel does that. But by displaying Christian love in the lives of those around us we can be used as the vessels through which the gospel message touches the lives of the world. Hebrews 4:12 talks about the convicting power of the gospel (a power that was on display in Acts 2:37). The gospel still has that power, if only we use the God-given, tried, tested, and true method of taking it into the world. It takes Christian love, a Christian love that will open hearts.
This is the potential impact of self-sacrificial, Christian love when properly displayed in the lives of those around us. There is nothing that can cause us to have a greater impact among our friends, family, and even complete strangers than love. If we, young or old, want to effect change in people’s lives we need to be an example to them in love; and by showing them the love of God they should be that much more accepting of His call.