A Moment with the Minister: Life’s Too Short

Lynnette Arriela Bonner

Rabbi, Bethel Temple Fellowship

“What is the greatest commandment in the law?” 

This question was asked by Jesus’ followers. Jesus said, “The first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart,with all your soul,with all your mind.”  The second greatest commandment is, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself, not only that but to seek the best and higher good for others” (Matthew 22:36-39.)  

To love is to have affection for.  Two commandments, yet these are the hardest to carry out.  Love is a choice.  It isn’t just an emotion, because we can choose to love or we can choose to hate. We choose to accept God or we choose to reject God. 

God loves His creation!  He just asks to reciprocate that love. God is love, truth, joy, peace, grace, mercy, the list can go on. In order for us to see those characteristics in Him, we need to take the time to get to know Him.  

There are different types of love. “Eros”, refers to physical or sexual love expressed in the context of marriage (1 Corinthians 7:5,Hebrews 13:4).  Keep in mind there is a difference between love and lust.  “Philos” means warm affection or friendship. This is commonly used for friendships and family relationships. Philos was the word used of Jesus’ love for His friend Lazarus (John 11:3,36) and His love for His disciples (John 20:2). 

“Storgē” means “family devotion”.  This is a related word and depending on translations it can mean “devoted or brotherly love.”

Finally, there’s “Agapē”, which is the sacrificial, unconditional love of God. In the Bible, this is the highest form of love. Agape love describes God’s love for mankind (John 3:16).  This also is the love talked about in Matthew 22 and John 13:34 loving one another just as Jesus has loved his creation. But society has twisted agape love for perversion and conditional love. True, unadulterated love is beautifully written in 1 Corinthians Chapter 13.  

We all have been hurt, betrayed, lied about, and abandoned. It’s emotionally draining and it feels like our heart is going to burst. If we try to love, then it’s not reciprocated.  That feeling turns into hurt then hate, and now we hide behind those feelings. 

Life is too short to hold on to bitterness, unforgiveness, and negative feelings. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 to make things right with the person we are angry with before we can even come to Him with a gift. It is like us giving a gift when we are mad at someone and just throwing that gift on the ground. We get the gift because it’s “the right thing to do”, but then the presentation and attitude is horrible. 

So, if we think we can be a good God-fearing person and go to God while this is in our heart, we’re wrong.  We are accountable for our actions, how we treat one another, and what comes out of our mouths about each other. 

If we want spiritual freedom, and peace for our souls, to know true love; it is for those who are desperate. 

Those who are desperate enough and tired of brokenness, try again to forgive. If you haven’t or have tried ,try one last time to forgive and make things right, if the other party refuses to reconcile, then at least you have done what the word of God says to do and the person who resists will be the one accountable to God. 

To those who are desperate for this agape love and freedom; surrender to the Lord. Maybe some of us need to reconcile with Jesus. Life is too short not to try.