Spiritual Effectuation ˇV ˇ§Loveˇ¨ Survey

 

Jesus Christ once issued an important command to His disciples (the Church). He said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35) If those who follow Christ carry out this instruction to love one another and are filled with love just as He is, they will have fulfilled the Law of the Old Testament and also produced excellent testimonies for God.

 

The manifestation of love among the members is by the employment of action rather than mere lip service, and by careful attention to many attitudes in life and co-existence rather than intangible vacuities. The apostle Paul defined ˇ§loveˇ¨ by the following: ˇ§Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.ˇ¨ (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

 

Although it is hard to quantify ˇ§loveˇ¨, this writer hopes to use the following 15 queries based on chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians to allow everyone to assess your level of love for others. This ˇ§love surveyˇ¨ focuses on an examination of the relationship between you and other members in the Lord.  Please give yourself an honest grading from 1 to 10 (weakest to strongest).

 

1.      I am able to accommodate other membersˇ¦ misunderstanding or unjust verbal accusations of myself. (Discipline to be patient)

2.      I am sensitive to the needs of other members, and quick to satisfy those needs. (Discipline to be kind)

3.      When serving together, if a member displays better performance, I will offer thanksgiving on his behalf. (Discipline to not envy)

4.      I will not share just my own triumphs or innumerable insights from the Bible with other members. (Discipline to not boast)

5.      I will not consider just my own methods to be most proper, and demand that other members totally accede. (Discipline to not be proud)

6.      I am most concerned about the feelings of other members, and treat them magnanimously with courtesy. (Discipline to not be rude)

7.      I always put the well-being of other members above my own. (Discipline to not be self-seeking)

8.      When I am wronged by a member, I am able to control my emotions. (Discipline to not be easily angered)

9.      I will quickly forgive and forget the wrongs done to me by other members. (Discipline to not keep records of wrongs)

10.  I will not be glad for a member when he wins the 649 lottery. (Discipline not to delight in evil)

11.  I will not publicize the mistakes of other members. (Discipline to protect)

12.  I trust the members I love, and can interact with them sincerely and honestly. (Discipline to trust)

13.  I strive to develop my relationships with other members every day. (Discipline to hope)

14.  I will not have the joy in my heart hijacked by hard-to-please members. (Discipline to always persevere)

15.  I am willing to apply myself totally to love other members in the Lord for the sake of the Lord. (Discipline in love that never fails)

 

If you score between 0 and 50, you must seek urgent improvement; between 51 and 100, you must seek more improvement; between 101 and 150, you should continue to stand fast and grow in love.

 

By: Daniel To