Most Christians are aware Jesus said that the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves. Did you know that our inspiration for loving people is Jesus Himself?
In 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul is sharing his heart to spread the Good News of Christ to other people. And he summarized his motivation here in Chapter 5 when he says:
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” – 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV)
Let’s break this verse down:
- Christ’s love “compels us“. This means Christ’s love urges us on, it inspires us, it motivates us. Scripture says “We love because He first loved us.” And His love is rooted in sacrifice.
- “one died for all” – Jesus’ love for people compelled Him to deny his self-interests. To put people ahead of Himself. Because Jesus died for others, it shows Jesus was living for others. Jesus would not have died for people, unless He had already chosen to live for people. To put other people first.
- “and therefore all died” – Therefore, when we come to faith in Christ, we died to our old life, and our own self-interests. As Christ resurrected, so we too have a new life in Christ. As a result:
- “those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
In our new life in Christ, we are compelled to love the way Jesus loved… which means no longer living for ourselves… Instead, loving others, because that’s how Jesus lived.
A Christian is to be Others Oriented. It means orienting our lives towards others, just as Jesus did.
Christ was Others Oriented. He came, not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). And we do the same by following in His footsteps. We’re followers of Jesus, that means doing what He does.
One Pastor put it this way: “Love people till your guts fall out”. In other words, love people till it hurts… give it your all, because that’s what Jesus did for you.
The challenge is this: Are you living a self-pleasing lifestyle, or a loving-others lifestyle? Wherever you’re at with this, God wants you to take steps towards loving other people more. That is His heart. May our hearts be conformed to His!