For all of humanity's accomplishments, the area we are collectively least productive in is, ironically, humanitarianism. Jesus noticed this character flaw long ago, when He came and observed our behavior toward one another. It isn't that we lack the skill, certainly we how to promote the well-being of a fellow human, because we know how our own human-self's well-being is best promoted. No, what we lack is the consciousness, and not merely that but also the determination to do it.
Although that is true, Jesus perceived that it was not out of innate cruelty that we neglected each other. And since it was not cruelty or disinclination which prevented us, we could overcome those obstacles of ignorance... if given the right logic and incentive to do so. Therefore He provided it, and various places of the Bible encouraged us so.
- A NEW COMMANDMENT
Most of the world is at least familiar with the ten commandments written in the Old Testament book of Exodus. Much less of the world is conscious of the eleventh commandment which Jesus provided in New Testament. We have been actually, officially commanded to love each other... with fervor.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”John 13:34-35
Jesus has commanded us to love each other as He has loved us, which means that we need to love each other with compassion, impartial mercy, and loyalty. Perhaps a mighty task, but reasonable. That means we have to start to consistently make more selfless-in-nature choices. We have to be more aware of our subjectivity but less beholden to it. Objectivity requires that we are intentionally more perceptive of the scope outside of our selves. To love one another also means that we have to broaden our 'lovable' criteria and subsequently need to love people who are not just different from our normal, but even the people who are in direct opposition of it.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?Matthew 5:43-46
And... it also means that have to love the people who are not easy to love. Which means that we have to abandon hate and desist from retaliative behavior. A more difficult task... and initially, somewhat less reasonable (if we're being honest). What Jesus did not say, (and in not saying it, left us to discover for ourselves) is that love is a much more productive emotion than its opposite. Love is more influential, a more convincing and effective 'argument' than well... an actual argument. If we are more persistent in prayer than in maintaining hostility, we eventuate toward a tangible, constructive result rather than an endless cycle of futility.
- THE LEAST OF THESE
There is another category of people we are commanded to actively love. In the aforementioned verses, Jesus encouraged us to love with our hearts and minds; to interact with others with kindness and patience. There are also people we need to love with action.
‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
Matthew 25:37-39
In Matthew 25 Jesus explains to the righteous that they have fed Him every time they filled an empty belly, (or metaphorically, sustained a starving soul). They had quenched His thirst every time they refreshed a dry mouth (or metaphorically, revived a despondent spirit). They clothed Him, every time they clothed a naked person, (or metaphorically, sheltered a vulnerable heart).
And conversely, Jesus explained to the unrighteous that they ignored and neglected Him every time they ignored or neglected a person in need (in literal or metaphorical terms). That is a sobering thought; for in saying that, Jesus essentially told us that by deeming another person unworthy of our time and resources, we deem Him unworthy of them as well. A person might not meet our personal requirements for charitable eligibility but they meet His... and guess whose requirements actually matter?
- A SOLEMN REQUEST
It has probably become apparent that the new commandment requires selflessness. And honestly, selflessness is something we all have to strive for because we are, at least by physical design, self-centered. We have to consciously project ourselves out of, beyond, our own sphere of existence in order to be cognizant of the plight, position and perspective of others. To do that, we can follow Solomon's lead.
...Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
1 Kings 3:8-9
Solomon was a monarch, and responsible for a kingdom's entire judicial system... and subsequently an entire kingdom's well-being. What he meant by 'judge' the people was care for the people: He wanted to know how to judge/discern between the sometimes difficult choices a leader is forced with in order to lead God's people well. Every person is familiar with such quandaries, when the right and wrong choice is not as obvious as it should be, when good and evil are not as distinct as black and white.
And so we can follow Solomon's lead when we commit ourselves to the new commandment: we ask God for help. We pray for God to supply the wisdom and tools we need to 'enter the field' properly equipped and sufficiently prepared to begin the task of loving all people well.
God is really proud of such selflessly-productive requests.
The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.1 Kings 3:1-13
Solomon's prayer was answered... and added to. God has cleverly designed a system by which a person earns what they're too genuinely-humble to ask for. When we endeavor do to God's will well and as a priority, He over-equips us. We could achieve much, change the whole world with literally nothing except God's loving-approval, but because He is so graciously generous, we do not have to. What do have to do, what we miraculously get to do, is pray to God as Solomon did for His assistance in our assistance of others.
- WITH THE SAME MEASURE
This next statement of Jesus' might instill either panic or relief. But will definitely provide the pragmatic-logic of helping others you need to continue or begin doing so with the fervor Jesus commanded.
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:38
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:6
This is the incentive Jesus left us with: that we fill our own basket every time we drop something in someone else's; we neglect our own basket every time we ignore someone else's. Indeed, rather than determining, with His omniscience, who is worthy of what, as He could fairly do...God lets us decide what we receive or do not receive. Therefore we now know that when we do stand before the judgement seat of Christ, it will really be our own selves who have chosen the judgement we receive.
- CHEERFUL GIVER
The new commandment is meant to be enjoyed in it's undertaking. We were told to love others as God loves us... and God loves to love us. It pleases Him to provide for us, Luke 12:32.
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:7-8
Don't love reluctantly, because when you do, you put up barriers and withhold love from expanding and abounding... and that is what makes love so special, the fact that it can leap and grow and include more than could be expected or calculated. Love is the element which renders the impossible... possible. If you want to participate in, or cause that level of influence among humanity, you will need to exude unrestrained love.
And don't give just because you've been commanded to, or because you can gain something from it... that is not an expression of the selfless love Jesus has loved you with. Give because you understand the act of giving to be a privilege, participation. For when you love and help others, you assuredly participate in the work of the Kingdom of God. You are a fellow-worker with God, 1 Corinthians 3:9. Give because there is no better feeling than witnessing relief, hope, happiness, encouragement, strength, or revival on the face of a previously destitute, person, in the spirit of a previously-desolate soul.