Divine Time ManagementShembull

Loving Others With Your Time 

Loving others is one of the highest and best uses of our time. It’s also an important part of how we show that we’re Christ followers. 

John 13:35 (NIV) puts it this way: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Unfortunately as Christians we don’t always demonstrate our relationship with Christ in our relationship with others. 

But today is a new day, and you can commit to loving others with your time right now. Two powerful ways to do so is through peacemaking and through pointing the finger… at yourself. 

In Romans 12:18 (NIV) it says: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” And in Proverbs 15:1 (NIV) we’re told: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

A huge part of us acting as peacemakers is in how we use our words. Do we speak in an offensive tone or do we communicate our thoughts in a respectful fashion? Do we assume the best of people or do we assume the worst? We can choose to temper how we think and how we communicate so that our presence produces peace even in situations tainted with strife. 

We can also love others by choosing to point the finger at ourselves instead of pointing the finger at others when we are triggered by someone’s words or actions. Others may have done something unkind or even wrong. But our strong negative reaction to their actions typically has to do with some hurt or lie in us as much as it has to do with them. 

As Matthew 7:3 (NIV) says: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” 

A huge way you can love others with your time is by slowing down, and looking inward: Identify exactly what happened. Ask yourself why it triggered you. Repent and forgive. Ask God for healing. Then if appropriate, talk to the other person. 

These actions take time and a lot of self-restraint but lead to us being a force for Christ's love and peace instead of a force of destruction even in the midst of difficult circumstances.