15 February 2009
Sharon’s Sunday Blog
Posted by Joy Bischoff under: General .
Love One Another
by Sharon Anderson
Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy god with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. ” Luke 10: 27
And “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34-35.
As we grow in our love for the Lord, our desire to bless others will increase. When it comes to helping others, we may be frustrated because the needs in the world are so great and our own ability to contribute seems so small. I have a card above my computer that says, “Do what you can, for those you can, where you are with what you have.” This is consistent with the expectations of the Lord who has counseled us not to run faster than we have strength.
Similarly, King Benjamin said that those who were rich as pertaining to the things of the world, but who would not give unto the poor would be condemned, unto the poor he said “ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give. (See Mosiah 4: 21-25).
Of course we should have our agency, the right to choose to help others because we feel compassion for them (as opposed to being forced by the government to be charitable.) Another excellent guideline for helping the poor is to take care of their immediate needs and then help them become self-reliant so they, in turn, can help others.
Whether we are able to give much or little materially, hopefully, we will find ways to serve others, for every good deed blesses both the giver and receiver and makes the world a better place.
“Cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all,” he said, “for all things must fail – But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever, and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore…pray unto the
Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ…”
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