Sometimes we complicate our faith and our Christianity. We write thousands of books in an attempt to clarify what God’s will is for us. We argue with one another about what the law of God is actually saying and expects from us. Sometimes we get so angry if the other person cannot or will not understand. But God’s instruction is actually very simple. There is only one thing we have to do. Yes, only one thing: Love one another. That’s all!

14For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself.

Do you want to do what is right in the eyes of your Lord? Love one another!

Do you want to stop struggling and falling constantly? Love one another!

Are you tired of always feeling bad about what you’ve done wrong again? Love one another!

Have you started over so many times simply to do it wrong again and again? Love one another!

Write down all your failures with the solution: Love one another! Before you start thinking, speaking or doing, make sure if you really love that person, because then you will do what is right. Even easier: How do I want others to act towards me? Do to others as you wish them to do to you. Every moment of the day we should try and live this command where love is the foundation and starting point of everything we do all the time.

And let’s be honest – it’s not so easy to do. For one reason or another I choose for myself most of the times, not even thinking about the other person’s needs. I may have the right intentions, but as soon as it seems as if the other person is outwitting me, I start protecting my own interests and before I know it, love walks out the door and we’re like two dogs fighting. Only to be flooded by feelings of guilt a little later about what has been said. By then it’s too late and the damage has been done.

It is interesting to see that communication causes the first cracks in the foundation. When we assist couples in preparing for marriage, we first take a few weeks to walk them through an international course that helps you to discuss about ten topics on marriage. And the first one? Communication!

That must be why the Bible talks about the tongue being a sword. 15If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other …

The most common place where you and I fail to put others first, is with those closest to us, those people we actually love most. We attack them for every little thing. Before the first three words are out, I already predict what is going to be said and I boil over. Soon it’s a battle field. Have you ever seen two vicious dogs attack one another? It’s terrible. It’s a mess, and nothing good comes out of it.

What do your relationships look like?

Maybe it’s a good place to start practising to obey all of God’s instructions and prescriptions for our own good. Maybe when working with our loved ones we should consciously keep saying: First think of the other one. If I was in her/his shoes, how would I have wanted that person to talk to me or approach me? Ask yourself how you would have addressed and solved the problem in a loving way.

God wants us to enjoy life. God wants us to enjoy one another. God wants us to love one another and treat one another right. However, we have to start at the starting blocks of love.

Galatians 5:13-25

Reflection

What do your relationships look like?

How often do you cover for yourself?

Do you think about the other person first?

Prayer

Jesus, You taught us what unconditional love is by offering us salvation while we were still sinners. Please help us to follow your example so that we do not kill one another with words. Amen