Part 33 – What It Means To Prepare for the 2nd Coming of Our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ
The term LOVE sounds like a very easy command. Doesn’t it? Upon closer look during reflections about Words of God, I find the idea of “easy to love” true only if a person is referring to trial and error ways of loving. In many instances, Man’s self-righteousness contradicts God’s Righteousness. Similarly, Man’s ways of loving may not necessarily follow what God wants us to follow as the Righteous Way of loving.
Again, this realization can be discovered if a believer in God actually studies the Holy Bible diligently, and then reflects and meditates on God’s teachings. The first few steps alone will be challenging. I wonder how many actually read the Scriptures regularly ? How many regularly reflect and meditate on Words of God ? From my fellowships with Bishops and Pastors belonging to a variety of Christian denominations, the assessment appears to be that a minority of Filipinos have the habit of reading the bible. Most who own one keep bibles in book shelves, It is just a first step after baptism. Either read or listen to Words of God regularly so as to be nourished spiritually like a plant in need of nourishment and water. Loving God also means striving to know Him better each day. Worshiping God is the most important after we know Him.
Let’s skip other Righteous Ways of loving God for the moment. How about loving neighbors ? The complete command is to love neighbors as we love ourselves. It requires a person’s self-examination of the way he lives life. Most people I’ve met believe in enjoying life to the fullest while alive or resolving problems to the best of one’s abilities. Let us take a look at what people mean by “enjoying life”.
Many love to eat delicious food. There is nothing wrong with that. Looking at the body of someone who has been enjoying lots of delicious food, I observe many living with obesity, sickness like diabetes, heart disease, etc. — evidences of over eating or gluttony, or loss of self-control. Knowing what the bible says,
Philippians 3:19 (applicable to some)
“19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.”
Proverbs 23:2 (applicable to some)
“2 and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.”
Proverbs 28:7 (applicable to some)
“7 A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.”
Proverbs 23: 20-21 (applicable to some)
“20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, 21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.”
Proverbs 25:27 (applicable to some)
English Standard Version
“It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.”
What we can learn from all these is the knowledge of God which calls for discipline even in very basic matters pertaining to love for one’s elf, for example, discipline in eating, discipline in having to read Words of God everyday. Love which implies such discipline tends to be very challenging for people with insatiable appetite. It is therefore NOT easy to love even one’s self if we firmly believe and obey God’s Righteousness when it comes to eating. Ask priests, pastors, bishops, Imams, Evangelists with bulging stomachs if this Truth holds water or not in order to validate the observation.
Awareness of related God’s commands in order to gain self-control of appetite and body health maintenance can check believers on this way of loving.