To Love or to Harm

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The Opposite of

LOVE

is Fear

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Harm preys on the fearful, to do harm’s will.

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THE GREATER OUR FEAR the less we can receive or give love. You might be thinking, That’s silly. I don’t fear anything. Let’s test that theory.

“Love is a verb.” This familiar saying even became a song a while back, by two artists: DCTalk and John Mayer. But has this phrase become so cliché that we gloss over it and miss the depth?

“Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:10 ← THAT gives a strong illustration of the VERB

Does, ergazomai (Greek): to work, accomplish, produce, be engaged in, perform, the opposite of idleness/laziness/inactivity. (biblehub.com, emphasis mine) ← This is ACTIVE

We either love or we…don’t love (hate?)

NOT ACTING or not speaking up against an injustice done to someone when it’s within your means to do so is the opposite of love. i.e. turning a blind eye to your friend when he verbally or emotionally abuses his spouse. Or hiding instead of intervening when your fellow worker is being harassed.

CAN OUR SILENCE LEAD TO DEATH? We do have it in our power to make a positive difference, and in some cases I think it’s an injustice not to. Read more on bullying in the workplace.

A YEAR AND A HALF AGO or so, my children and I went through a dark time. During this time, a woman (complete stranger) bullied me via Facebook PM. My courageous daughter attempted cordially to put the woman in her place and was also bullied. Despite the shock of the verbal attack, it helped me just knowing I was loved and not alone in the battle. My voice was heard in the matter, and that was validating.

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Love does no harm…

ARE WE TOO AFRAID…to stop the harm?

Love actively works, passionately protecting and covering.
Genuine love produces something that shows God’s love.
Love engages in patience toward people.

Is “pretending not to notice” harm being done actually an expression of hate? 

Where harm is actively being done to a person, Love steps in and does the opposite.
Where there’s been a rant of rudeness, Love responds with humbleness.

Love does NO HARM—which directs us back to the cornerstone for this verb: God is Love  
He produces and accomplishes what He is. And His perfect love expels all fear that provokes us to harm another.

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:9-10

Self-assessment: when a person is verbally or physically harmed by others in my presence what’s my response?

We need more off-screen heroes in our everyday lives.
I’m in. Are you?
Share a time you stepped out in the face of harm.

The Love of an Embattled Spirit