Love Is Not A Possession
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February 4, 2007)
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Open It
What might a friend do to you that you would have trouble forgiving?
What advice would you give to someone who wanted some practical wisdom on how to get along with others?
Explore It
What should we hate? (12:9)
What is genuine love like? (12:9, 13, 18-21)
What attitudes should we strive to have? (12:9-16)
What down-to-earth advice did Paul give? (12:9-21)
In what ways ought we to treat others as more important than ourselves? (12:10, 13, 16, 20)
What instructions does God want us to observe in our relationships? (12:10, 13-21)
How is a Christian to treat enemies? (12:14, 17-21)
With whom does God want us to live at peace? (12:18)
Why should we not take revenge? (12:19)
What is the purpose of showing kindness to an enemy? (12:20)
Get It
What can we do to learn to hate evil?
How can one hate evil yet not hate the evildoer?
How can a Christian learn to love others as God loves them?
In what ways is Christian love more than emotion?
What does it mean to honor one another?
Why should we be joyful when we are suffering?
Why is it wrong to repay evil with evil?
How does doing good to an enemy overcome evil?
Apply It
In what ways can you honor someone above yourself? Who?
Whom do you need to love and bless this week even though he or she hurts you?
Notes
Romans 12:9: Most of us have learned how to pretend to love others-how to speak kindly, avoid hurting their feelings, and appear to take an interest in them. We may even be skilled in pretending to feel moved with compassion when we hear of others' needs, or to become indignant when we learn of injustice. But God calls us to real and sincere love that goes far beyond pretense and politeness. Sincere love requires concentration and effort. It means helping others become better people. It demands our time, money, and personal involvement. No individual has the capacity to express love to a whole community, but the body of Christ in your town does. Look for people who need your love, and look for ways you and your fellow believers can love your community for Christ.
Romans 12:10: We can honor others in one of two ways. One involves ulterior motives. We honor our bosses so they will reward us, our employees so they will work harder, the wealthy so they will contribute to our cause, the powerful so they will use their power for us and not against us. God's other way involves love. As Christians, we honor people because they have been created in God's image, because they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, and because they have a unique contribution to make to Christ's church. Does God's way of honoring others sound too difficult for your competitive nature? Why not try to outdo one another in showing honor? Put others first!
Romans 12:13: Christian hospitality differs from social entertaining. Entertaining focuses on the host-the home must be spotless; the food must be well prepared and abundant; the host must appear relaxed and good-natured. Hospitality, by contrast, focuses on the guests. Their needs-whether for a place to stay, nourishing food, a listening ear, or acceptance-are the primary concern. Hospitality can happen in a messy home. It can happen around a dinner table where the main dish is canned soup. It can even happen while the host and the guest are doing chores together. Don't hesitate to offer hospitality just because you are too tired, too busy, or not wealthy enough to entertain.
Romans 12:17-21: These verses summarize the core of Christian living. If we love someone the way Christ loves us, we will be willing to forgive. If we have experienced God's grace, we will want to pass it on to others. And remember, grace is undeserved favor. By giving an enemy a drink, we're not excusing his misdeeds. We're recognizing him, forgiving him, and loving him in spite of his sins-just as Christ did for us.
12:19-21 In this day of constant lawsuits and incessant demands for legal rights, Paul's command sounds almost impossible. When someone hurts you deeply, instead of giving him what he deserves, Paul says to befriend him. Why does Paul tell us to forgive our enemies? (1) Forgiveness may break a cycle of retaliation and lead to mutual reconciliation. (2) It may make the enemy feel ashamed and change his or her ways. (3) By contrast, repaying evil for evil hurts you just as much as it hurts your enemy. Even if your enemy never repents, forgiving him or her will free you of a heavy load of bitterness.
12:19-21 Forgiveness involves both attitudes and actions. If you find it difficult to feel forgiving toward someone who has hurt you, try responding with kind actions. If appropriate, tell this person that you would like to heal your relationship. Lend a helping hand. Send him or her a gift. Smile at him or her. Many times you will discover that right actions lead to right feelings.
12:20 What does it mean to "heap burning coals" on someone's head? This may refer to an Egyptian tradition of carrying a pan of burning charcoal on one's head as a public act of repentance. By referring to this proverb, Paul was saying that we should treat our enemies with kindness so that they will become ashamed and turn from their sins. The best way to get rid of enemies is to turn them into friends.
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February 4, 2007)
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