1 Thessalonians 5:15B-17

We need to care for each other, comfort each other, be examples of God's love to one another and let patience do her perfect work. If it is good for another it is good for us!

Paul teaches the Thessalonians submission rather than individualism and rejection of authority. To be most effective in promoting positive change in people's lives, believers should respond to individuals according to each one's particular needs. For a Christian to try to get revenge is a denial of basic Christian love, and it goes against Jesus' teaching.

5:15 Be at peace among yourselves.

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

John 15:9-17

Jesus gave up His life in exchange for ours. He laid aside His deity and He who had no sin became sin to put an end to its hold on man. We must love others in the same manner that He loved us and that His Father loved us. No greater gift will anyone give than the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus with the Father who created them. We remain in Him if we keep His command to LOVE. Love conquers all!

The love of God the Father for God the Son is the measure of the love of the Son for believers. Christ loves believers unconditionally. The supreme example of love is Jesus' humility in sacrificial service.

9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

Ephesians 4:1-3

The Holy Spirit is the heart of the Father he is gentle, compassionate and loving. If we want His presence in our lives and in our churches we need to be at peace with each other. The hardest thing that we will ever do is to love those who have hurt us, those who are totally different from us and those who look down on us. The one thing that we can do for God that brings with it eternal benefits is to love people, all people, in our hearts and in His name.

Only the Spirit can empower us to treat people this way consistently. Often we ask God to be patient with our own failings, and yet do not exercise the same type of patience ourselves. All Christians are one in the Spirit. It is our duty to keep or observe that unity, recognize it as real, and act upon it without a sectarian spirit

4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,  with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Galatians 6:9-10

If someone needs your help, help them, willingly. Because we love we do good. It is as easy as that to please your heavenly Father. Oh what a glorious God we serve.

In this verse, Paul speaks of doing good. The apostle has argued at length that such works cannot justify or sanctify anyone. However, good works are, in fact, an important fruit of the life of faith that God has planned for each believer.

6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:1-5

In this life we will have trials and heartache, it is called Life. But we can lighten each other's hearts simply by being there for each other, having empathy for each other and by being doers, helpers to each other. Anything is easier to bear when we have someone beside us with Jesus!

The term fulfill suggests that choosing to bear another Christian's burdens is precisely what Christ expects of all believers. The Greek word for burdens refers to something beyond the normal capacity to carry, as opposed to a "load", which is what a person could be expected to carry. Anyone who concludes that he is something special, through shortsighted self-comparison with those who seem to have fallen, truly deceives himself. Instead of examining and judging others, a Christian should always examine his own work to see if he is closely following Christ's example.

Bear and Share the Burdens

6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.

Luke 10:30-37

Do you want to be like Jesus? You had better learn to love everyone, even those you or society have decided to look down upon. God loves each and every person, all nationalities, all without partiality, we must do the same. If we do not show mercy, in the form of doing, we will not be shown mercy. When we give of our time and money to those in need we build up lasting treasure in heaven where nothing can destroy it. Not all who say they knew Jesus will be acknowledged by Him in His kingdom. It will be those who did that which He commanded…Love your neighbor as yourself.

Part of the beauty of the story of the Good Samaritan is the reversal of stereotypes. The priest and Levite traditionally would have been the "good guys." The Samaritan would have been a "bad guy," a person who compromised in religious matters. However, the Samaritan knew how to treat his neighbor. The neighbor here was not someone the Samaritan knew or even someone of the same race, just someone in need. The central issue is not determining who one's neighbor is, but being a good neighbor to all.

10:30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"

37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him."

Then Jesus said to him,
"Go and do likewise."

Leviticus 19:11-18

The guidelines for the Christian, the employer, the welfare system and the judicial courts are explained in these OT passages. White collar crime should not be treated any differently than blue collar crime. We should make all places handicapped assessable. We should take care of those disabled who cannot take care of themselves. Wages should be paid on time and in full. We should treat others the way that we would like them to treat us. If you have problems with someone go to them and talk it over with them. If you cannot say something nice about someone to someone else then keep your mouth closed……If we are to call ourselves Christian then we must love others as much as we love ourselves, period!

A day laborer needed his pay daily to provide food for himself and his family. To withhold it for one's own gain or convenience created a hardship for him and was forbidden. In court, neither the poor, nor the mighty, nor even a person's neighbor were to be given any special treatment. The way to avoid letting hatred build up was to confront the person. Ideally this would involve resolving the issue face to face. You shall love your neighbor as yourself: Jesus identified this as one of only two commandments that, if kept, would fulfill all of the Law (Matt. 22:37–40).

19:11 'You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. 12 And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

13 'You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning. 14 You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

15 'You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

17 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.