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The Baleful Beacon of Contempt
The Hatfield’s and McCoy’s. The Montagues and Capulets. Gators and Criminoles. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Civility should be the mantra of all. But not just that. Selfless love should reign supreme. Looking out for the best interest of others. Especially those of the household of faith.
Let’s face it. Some are more lovable than others. But that doesn’t excuse us from not treating others better than ourselves. Didn’t our Lord say as such?
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22.39b
Love my neighbor? That doesn’t sound too difficult. But at times we, like the Pharisees, try to clarify who exactly is my neighbor. Because to be honest, sometimes my neighbor isn’t likeable... let alone lovable. And then we forget entirely Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount:
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Matthew 5.44
Sad to say there are times when brethren are downright hostile to one another. Bitter enemies. Love them? How? Why?
If we are not careful, subtle feelings of animosity will fester. Over time germinating to the point of destroying relationships. Forever impacting our daily walk. Even jeopardizing our own salvation. It’s the scorn which radiates from the depths of one’s spirit like a baleful beacon of contempt. Worthless. Beneath consideration. And as such, a horrible sense of blackness and the treachery of the day seizes hold upon our very souls. The echoes of our guilt whisper thus: Have we indeed cast our lot with the lions and foresworn the lambs? Choosing to be like the world which cries out: “Every man for himself!”
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17.17
So what happens when adversity originates from family? From the brother who should be the very one to stand by our side as we fight the good fight? Who is called to love at all times? To encourage and lift up? But instead of a joyful heart, the end result is a crushed spirit which dries up our bones.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17.22
Sometimes I wonder if we fully realize that our treatment of brethren is harmful. To them and to us. A serpent? The absurdity of it all (Matthew 7.10). And yet, even our words at times spit venomous poisons to the very ones we ought to love and consider better than ourselves. I'm afraid we are at times too selfish and self-centered. We become self-consumed. Looking out for number one and heaven help those who are in are way. Never taking the time to stop and simply consider others. But instead, driving a wedge between ourselves and the very ones who care for and love us deeply. The blame for everything is undeniable selfishness.
“Intensely selfish people are always very decided as to what they wish. They do not waste their energies in considering the good of others.”
Maria Louise RameĢ, “Wanda: Countess Von Szalras”
Brotherly kindness is a staple of our Christian faith. It should permeate every facet of our being. Every waking moment in service to others. Selfless actions should course through our veins. It’s a stark contrast to the message that we hear time and time again today. We dismiss the fact that no man is an island, entire of itself. We quickly forget our present state. Enemies of God. In dire need of reconciliation. Forgetting the selfless actions of the Savior.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Romans 5.10-11
Because of what our God has done for us as a benevolent and loving heavenly Father, we are to do to others as we would have them do to us (Luke 6.31). His benevolence should lead to our benevolence to others. And especially to those we call brethren.
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Romans 12.10
Inaction and isolation are unthinkable. We need but remember that we are not soloists with little use for the choir. The cross indeed has amplified this message. It is at the heart of God and the heart of the kingdom. We need to but simply look at what our great God has accomplished for us through the cross. Reconciliation. The restoration of relationships. An end to enmity, animosity, and malice. And thus, love unselfishly from a heart that has been reconciled to God.
Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
1 Corinthians 10.24
Now do the same. We can. We must.
I pray that all choose the way of self-control and peaceful accommodation. If they do not, we must await with patience and sympathy the awakening and recovery that most assuredly will come at last.
Come quickly O Lord. Revive us again in your spirit.
