Reading… and Thinking

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

— 1 Peter 4:8-10 (ESV)

We are told to love one another quite a bit in the New Testament. Peter says it here. Paul says it in several places. John makes a huge point of it. Above all, Jesus commands it and says it is the way you can tell true disciples.

So what does it mean? In the New Testament, love is not contrasted with hate. Love is contrasted with despising. To despise something is to consider it worthless, not deserving of any attention at all. Love, on the other hand, means that you value someone (or something) very highly. So, we are to value one another.

In this passage Peter tells gives us a couple of ways that it will show.

First of all, he says “be hospitable to one another”. That is, welcome each other into your homes. Or you could say, spend time together. Who do you voluntarily spend time with? Who do you have over for dinner? It’s the people who are important to you. Their friendship is valuable to you. Now here’s a twist: Who is it that becomes your valued friend? The people you spend time with! It’s true throughout our lives. It begins with other kids in the neighborhood, moves on to classmates, finally it’s our co-workers and maybe a neighbor. These are who become our friends, because we end up spending time with them. So there is a positive reinforcement feedback loop—the people you spend time with become your friends, and your friends are the people you want to spend time with.

But Peter goes on. He says we should welcome fellow-believers “without grumbling”. In other words, don’t be grudging about spending time with those who share your faith. Don’t be stingy about sharing your home with them. Number one, it demonstrates that you care about them. And number two, you are building relationships.

This isn’t natural. The natural thing is to hang out with people we’ve come in contact with, that we feel comfortable with. Peter says, put some work (without griping!) into developing relationships with people you might not otherwise be friends with, just because they are fellow believers. In fact, work at developing a love for them, valuing them.

And by the way, this love will cover a multitude of sins! Wait a minute – isn’t it only God and Jesus who can forgive? Well, in the sense of truly removing sin and saving us, yes. But you know that we have an obligation to forgive as well. So what does this mean? What Peter seems to be saying is, “OK, there are people you don’t get along with, who you feel have wronged you. Love them. Welcome them. Develop a relationship with them, and learn to value them for the good things about them. And this will allow you to cover, even forgive, the negative things.”

We are to be all about serving each other. Peter says that whatever gift you have received, you need to employ it for one another. If you are a good listener, or have a great sense of humor, or have insight into the Word of God, or are good with your hands, or can sympathize with someone who is hurting—whatever your gift, use it for those who share your faith. That doesn’t mean to exclude others. But it does mean there is a responsibility to employ it for God’s children.

Because He loves them. That is, He cares about them, He values them. And because you love them.