Love to hear from and know who is listening
What is an example of a dilemma in the Bible? There are several moral dilemmas presented in the Bible, some of which include the story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son Isaac, the story of King Solomon deciding the true mother of a disputed child, the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. Maybe one of the greatest dilemmas in the bible is the one that Joseph faced. He discovers that Mary is pregnant. He must decide what he will do with Mary. We are told, Joseph, being a righteous man was unwilling to expose her to public disgrace so he planned to dismiss her quietly. Later he is told by an angel that she is with child from the Holy Spirit. I feel very fortunate, because my greatest dilemma is deciding what to have for dinner and knowing when to push away from the table so that I don't get so fat that I can't get my jeans buttoned. One of the greatest dilemmas in the bible maybe found in the greatest commandment found in Matthew.
Matthew 22: 36-40 NIV Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Do I have you confused? What possible dilemma can this commandment have it seems so simple, direct and to the point. The dilemma lies in the word commandment. If you look up the definition of the word commandment you will find that it means to command someone, the act or power of commanding or something that is commanded. What are some things you can be commanded to do, pass the salt, get out of my way, shut the door, clean your room. However it is impossible to command someone to love. You can't command someone to love anything or anyone, including God himself! You don't have to command me to watch football, eat a fine steak, spoil my grandchildren or kiss my wife because I love all of these things! If love could be commanded then it wouldn’t be called love, it would be called duty. Duty is not love and love is not duty. Love must be chosen, not commanded, but the greatest commandment in Matthew is not the only place we are commanded to love!
John 13: 34-35 NIV A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
How can God command us to love if love must be chosen? The answer is in the second sentence of that verse from John 13:34: “As I have loved you.” We are to love as Christ has loved us. As a Christian, you have the ability to love as God loves. You did not have this ability before you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior. Can unbelievers love others? Sure, but it’s not the same love as God’s love. God’s love is an agape love. It’s unconditional and never-ending. Love is not just a characteristic of God or a description of our Creator it is what He is!
1 John 4:8 NIV Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love.
Love comes from God, so Christians who demonstrate love show they have relationship with Him. The opposite is also true. The person who does not demonstrate love, does not know God. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
