Building Blocks for Life: Being Loving By Mark Mayberry 8/2/2015 INTRODUCTION A loving person is someone who seeks the highest good of another. MEMORY VERSES Memory verses come from the letters of Paul and John (Rom. 13:9-10; 1 John 4:7-8). Romans 13:9-10 (NASB95) 9 For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 1 John 4:7-8 (NASB95) 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. POSITIVE EXAMPLES Ruth Ruth demonstrated love by leaving her home in Moab and travelling to Judah with her bereaved mother-in-law, Naomi (Ruth 1, esp. vs. 16-17). Ruth 1 (NASB95) 1 Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomi s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. 4 They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband. 6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the Lord had visited His people
in giving them food. 7 So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 May the Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, No, but we will surely return with you to your people. 11 But Naomi said, Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me. 14 And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 Then she said, Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law. 16 But Ruth said, Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me. 18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. 19 So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, Is this Naomi? 20 She said to them, Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me? 22 So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. The Father and the Son Jesus Christ demonstrated love for lost mankind by leaving His home in heaven, coming to this land of sin and sorrow, and dying on the cross that we might be saved (Rom. 5:6-11; Phil. 2:1-8). Romans 5:6-11 (NASB95) 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Philippians 2:1-8 (NASB95) 1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection
and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. NEGATIVE EXAMPLES Cain & Abel Cain was angry that God accepted Abel s sacrifice but not his own (Gen. 4:1-8; 1 John 3:11-12). Genesis 4:1-8 (NASB95) 1 Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord. 2 Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. 4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it. 8 Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. 1 John 3:11-12 (NASB95) 11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother s were righteous. Rachel & Leah Rachel and Leah jealously competed for the affection of Jacob (Gen. 29-30:24; Prov. 27:4). Genesis 29 (NASB95) 1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the sons of the east. 2 He looked, and saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for from that well they watered the flocks. Now the stone on the mouth of the well was large. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, they would then roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the mouth of the well. 4 Jacob said to them, My brothers, where are you from? And they said, We are from Haran. 5 He said to them, Do you
know Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. 6 And he said to them, Is it well with him? And they said, It is well, and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep. 7 He said, Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them. 8 But they said, We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered, and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep. 9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother s brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother s brother. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept. 12 Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and that he was Rebekah s son, and she ran and told her father. 13 So when Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister s son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then he related to Laban all these things. 14 Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. And he stayed with him a month. 15 Then Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be? 16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 And Leah s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and face. 18 Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel. 19 Laban said, It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay with me. 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may go in to her. 22 Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her. 24 Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. 25 So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me? 26 But Laban said, It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years. 28 Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29 Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years. 31 Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for she said, Because the Lord has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me. 33 Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also. So she named him Simeon. 34 She conceived again and bore a son and said, Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons. Therefore he was named Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son and said, This time I will praise the Lord. Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
Genesis 30:1-24 (NASB95) 1 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she became jealous of her sister; and she said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. 2 Then Jacob s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb? 3 She said, Here is my maid Bilhah, go in to her that she may bear on my knees, that through her I too may have children. 4 So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. 5 Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 6 Then Rachel said, God has vindicated me, and has indeed heard my voice and has given me a son. Therefore she named him Dan. 7 Rachel s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 So Rachel said, With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and I have indeed prevailed. And she named him Naphtali. 9 When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took her maid Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Leah s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, How fortunate! So she named him Gad. 12 Leah s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 Then Leah said, Happy am I! For women will call me happy. So she named him Asher. 14 Now in the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Please give me some of your son s mandrakes. 15 But she said to her, Is it a small matter for you to take my husband? And would you take my son s mandrakes also? So Rachel said, Therefore he may lie with you tonight in return for your son s mandrakes. 16 When Jacob came in from the field in the evening, then Leah went out to meet him and said, You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son s mandrakes. So he lay with her that night. 17 God gave heed to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 Then Leah said, God has given me my wages because I gave my maid to my husband. So she named him Issachar. 19 Leah conceived again and bore a sixth son to Jacob. 20 Then Leah said, God has endowed me with a good gift; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons. So she named him Zebulun. 21 Afterward she bore a daughter and named her Dinah. 22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb. 23 So she conceived and bore a son and said, God has taken away my reproach. 24 She named him Joseph, saying, May the Lord give me another son. Proverbs 27:4 (NASB95) 4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy? APPLICATION Do I really love myself? Love of self does not need cultivation, but comes naturally, and is the starting point for a life lived according to higher principles (Matt. 7:12; Eph. 5:22-33). Sin is inherently self-destructive (Prov. 11:17; 15:27; Eccles. 4:4-5). Matthew 7:12 (NASB95) 12 In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Ephesians 5:22-33 (NASB95) 22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. Proverbs 11:17 (NASB95) 17 The merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm. Proverbs 15:27 (NASB95) 27 He who profits illicitly troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live. Ecclesiastes 4:4-5 (NASB95) 4 I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind. 5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. The devil encourages us to waste our time, squander our talents, and misuse our bodies in the pursuit of sinful pleasure (1 Cor. 6:15-20). 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 (NASB95) 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! 16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, The two shall become one flesh. 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. Am I being loving with myself? When others recognize that I am different, how does that make me feel? When I wear modest clothing, when I do not attend dance parties, when I try to be pure and holy, and am thus different from others, how does that make me feel? Do I accept that I am different, and am I good with that? Or am I afraid to be different, and terrified by the thought that I might be singled out and ridiculed?
Do I really love others? Do I recognize that love is not merely an emotion, but an action word and a way of life? When there is one cookie left, do I engage in operation sneak and snatch, or do I sacrifice my own desires and share? When playing sports, am I a humble winner or do I gloat? Am I a sore loser, or do I celebrate another s success? Do I really love God? Do I recognize and understand just how much God loves me (Eph. 2:1-10; 1 John 4:7-10)? Do I show my love for God by keeping His commandments (Deut. 7:9-11; 1 John 5:2-3)? Ephesians 2:1-10 (NASB95) 1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. 1 John 4:7-10 (NASB95) 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Deuteronomy 7:9-11 (NASB95) 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; 10 but repays those who hate Him to their faces, to destroy them; He will not delay with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face. 11 Therefore, you shall keep the commandment and the statutes and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them. 1 John 5:2-3 (NASB95) 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
CONCLUSION Do you realize the demands of God s love (Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 5:14-15)? Galatians 2:20 (NASB95) 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NASB95) 14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Do you appreciate the promises of God s love (Rom. 8:35-39)? Romans 8:35-39 (NASB95) 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.