Love and hatred are basic attributes in every person. We all love some things, and we also hate other things. And what one man loves, another man can hate. What you hate, someone else will love.
People in the world love drinking alcohol, smoking, feasting, rock music, drugs, and sensualism. On the other hand, Christians hate these things. They love purity, holiness, and righteousness.
Happiness is to have and to do what you love, and to get rid of the things that you hate. Many times we must do unpleasant duties, which we hate, out of necessity. We must do them. Then we complain and murmur; we are unhappy.
Many come to church and obey the laws and rules, yet they do not love them. They often are unhappy, loudly complaining. But to have eternal life they must perform those duties that they consider unpleasant.
Yet, the Bible teaches us that if something in the requirements of God is unpleasant to us, and we do it grudgingly, our service to God is in vain.
“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12
They did not receive the love of the truth, that they could be saved. They know the truth, they believe the truth, but they do not love the truth. For this reason they cannot be saved.
We have a choice. How we treat others, our relationships with each other, is our choice. Brothers and sisters in the church are to be closely knit together with the cords of love. If there is one brother or sister that you avoid, you are not speaking to him, or are not friendly to him, then you are not ready for heaven. If there is someone you dislike so much, that you cannot be social with them, or be kind to them, then you are a stranger to God. “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:8
Angry words are an incense on the altar of Satan. We must love all people.
What is the truth that we should love? “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.” John 17:17. God’s word is the Bible and the testimonies—they are the truth.
Therefore, if anyone loves the truth, He reads the Bible every day. The Bible is with him everywhere he goes. And not only does he read the Bible, he follows it, he obeys it, because he loves it. Only the one who loves Bible reading hates worldly literature, shows, and movies, all worldly practices, because they are sin. The one who does not love the truth, reads the Bible very little. Every word in the Bible is truth. We are to love it, or else we will be lost.
Now the question comes—is love voluntary or is it involuntary? Can we control it? Can we demand it? Can we love at will, and hate as we decide?
“God’s power alone can change the human heart and imbue it with the love of Christ.” –Testimonies to Ministers, p. 143
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love…” Galatians 5:22
God is offering His Spirit to us. And also at the same time He is offering love to fill our hearts. Therefore, Paul writes in Thessalonians, “Because they received not the love of the truth, whereby they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10–11
We must receive love from God when it is offered to us. If we do not receive it from God, then we do not have it.
When we receive this love, the whole of our religion is nothing else but love. Love to God. Love to our neighbour. Love to our enemies. Love to the truth. Love to obey the word of God. This love comes to us as a gift from God. He freely gives it to us.
Along with the principle of love comes something else. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Because God loves us, He gave us His Son.
Along with love comes giving. “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Luke 6:38. When you give, the more will be given unto you.
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
“There is nothing too precious for us to give to Jesus. If we return to Him the talents of means which He has entrusted to our keeping, He will give more into our hands. Every effort we make for Christ will be rewarded by Him, and every duty we perform in His name will minister to our own happiness.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 19
“A conscientious few made returns to God of about one third of all their income for the benefit of religious interests and for the poor.” –Ibid., p. 467
“Those who are selfishly withholding their means need not be surprised if God’s hand scatters. . . . God can scatter the means He has lent to His stewards, if they refuse to use it to His glory.” –Ibid., vol. 2, p. 661
If those who profess to love the truth are holding on to their riches and do not seek opportunities to do good with that which He has entrusted to them, God will come and scatter their means. Many losses will be sustained.
In this, Jesus did not only mean giving money and goods, but also giving knowledge and spiritual blessings, encoura-gement to others. The Bible is clear on this principle. The merciful will obtain mercy. Those who forgive will be forgiven. When you teach others by giving Bible studies, God will give more knowledge to you. When you encourage others, you will be encouraged to continue. When you perform the free labour of love, you will receive help. When you make others happy, you will find your own happiness.
A few days ago, I talked to a 50-year old businessman. He had money, family, a house, a job. He was healthy. He was provided everything he needed. Yet he said, I am bored of life, doing the same thing, day after day. He told me that he does not enjoy life. He gets depressed and frustrated. Another time, another person told me that sometimes in the middle of the night, he starts beating his wife, hitting her for no reason. He said he is so frustrated and there is no one else to take it out on. Yet this man had all his material needs provided for him.
One rich businessman told me that he has provided for his wife everything money can buy—clothing, entertainment, the best food, vacations, a beautiful home. But his wife does not appreciate it. She constantly yells and screams at him, for no reason at all. Then one day he came home half an hour later than he had promised. She met him at the door, screaming, and using abusive language, threatening to divorce him. It was not really his being a half hour late that was the problem. She was bored, frustrated with her life, and used any little reason to vent her frustrations. By not giving happiness to others, they cannot receive happiness for themselves.
Jealousy kills love in a moment. This has broken many marriages. In the place of love comes suspicion, fault-finding, and even open hatred. When a husband or wife becomes jealous of the other, love is gone from that marriage. Jealousy can separate best friends. Covetousness and love cannot dwell in the same heart.
Covetousness and the love of money have separated many friends. Love to a friend can be strong, but love to money can be stronger and defeat the love towards a friend.
Judas was so concerned that Mary wasted the precious alabaster box of ointment, which could have been used in helping the poor, and in doing missionary work. Judas did not care for the poor; Judas did not love missionary work. No, he was covetous, trying to hide his love of money by pretending to care for the poor.
“It is the want of genuine religion that produces gloom, despondency, and sadness. . . . A hearty, willing service to Jesus produces a sunny religion. Those who follow Christ most closely have not been gloomy. In Christ is light and peace and joy forevermore.” –The Adventist Home, p. 431
David was Saul’s friend, but what came over Saul? “And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice. And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from him.” 1 Samuel 18:10–13
An evil spirit came over Saul at that moment. He lost control of his better judgment, and threw the javelin at David twice. Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him. The Lord blessed David and Saul had a curse upon him. Therefore Saul removed David from his presence to another place. Their friendship was broken, and hatred came in its place. In the end, Saul died and David became the king.
“The LORD preserveth all them that love Him: but all the wicked will He destroy.” Psalm 145:20
“And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.” Exodus 14:25. Who was winning? Israel or the Egyptians?
When we read the story of Mordecai and Haman, who was the winner and who was the loser?
Love is therefore the best life insurance policy that we can have, the best protection.
The Lord freely offers divine love to us, love that is stronger than hatred, in that can love the worst person. It is greater than the love for money; we can love someone who cheated us out of money.
Jesus loved Judas and tried to save him. Jesus knew that Judas was stealing money from the church treasury. But, He did not expose him to the other disciples. He gave him also the power to perform miracles and sent him out to do missionary work. Jesus was hoping that eventually Judas would learn the lesson of true love, which was stronger than the love for money. Eventually the Holy Spirit left Judas and an evil spirit entered in. That moment, Jesus said to Judas, “That thou doest, do quickly.” John 13:27. Jesus practically told him to leave the company of the disciples.
When the Holy Spirit leaves a person, the church cannot help him any more. That is when God shakes him out of the church, and spiritual darkness comes upon him. He then blindly joins in a strong delusion, in an error.
There are millions of hypocrites in the Christian churches, who claim to love God above all and their neighbour as themselves. However, all their religious experiences were a result of selfishness, self-love, obeying rules and performing unpleasant duties, expecting a reward in the end.
With love every duty becomes a joy to us. Cheerfully we sacrifice all we have, even life itself, for others and to God. Then we will love purity, holiness, and righteousness, and hate sin and selfishness.
Amen.
Adapted from a sermon by Timo Martin