Love can be understood as a way of describing God. You cannot simply tell people to love if God has no place in their thinking. The Ten Commandments were, at heart, a code of love, given to draw the Israelites closer to the divine. Had they kept those commands in the Spirit in which they were given, they would have become like God. History shows, however, that they fixated on the letter of the Law instead of its Spirit—and failed.
Perhaps God used their story to demonstrate how impossible it is for human beings to practice love authentically without the Holy Spirit. By contrast, some individuals—like Abel—naturally lived out love without being instructed to do so. Abel pleased God, suggesting that he lived the law of love instinctively; Enoch did the same.
Cain, Abel’s brother, displayed a nature entirely opposed to his brother’s. Genesis 6:1–7 tells us that Adam’s early descendants included both the sons and daughters of men and the sons of God. When these groups intermarried, it grieved God and led to the catastrophe of the great flood. Yet Noah was spared, showing that he belonged to God’s children and remained separate from the corruption that had consumed humanity at large.
Later came Abraham, who found God’s grace as another of His children. His righteousness did not spring from keeping rules—it was part of his very nature, setting him apart from most people around him. Imperfect as he was, Abraham leaned toward godliness, much like others who found God’s favor, such as Joseph and David.
When Jesus sent His disciples on a special mission, He told them they would encounter “sons of peace”—people who would gladly provide for their needs as they worked (Luke 10:5–7). These individuals were fundamentally different from those unwilling to bear the cost of helping strangers. Their kindness was not something they had to be taught; it was simply who they were. The Good Samaritan embodied this reality, instinctively showing compassion to a wounded person in need.
Jesus touched on this again when He spoke of what would happen to the righteous on the Day of Judgment (Matthew 25:32–46). A closer look reveals that these righteous ones are not the same as true Christians—the ones Jesus calls His brothers, who receive help from the righteous. True Christians are co-heirs with Christ. In Revelation 20:11–15, they are not among those to be judged, a fact confirmed by Revelation 20:4–6.
To His disciples—including true Christians today—Jesus gave a new command: to love one another (John 13:34–35). He gave this command to God’s children, sealed by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9–17) and set apart from the rest of the world. Only God teaches His children to love, and they recognize His voice. Christians are not called to teach the whole world how to love; their mission is to preach the gospel of God’s Kingdom and baptize those who repent.
Love is a divine principle that cannot be imposed on anyone. Through the failings of the Israelites, God proved how difficult it is to force love upon others. If God couldn’t accomplish it with the children of Israel, what makes anyone think they could? Those who genuinely live by love do so naturally, without trying to impress, and they extend mercy freely. In contrast, many give with strings attached, expecting something in return, and frequently mistake affinity for real love. Even those celebrated for their generosity often expect to be met with admiration.
Affinity is simply connecting with like-minded people and benefiting from that connection. Love, however, is given unconditionally. The many denominational divisions within Christianity often reflect affinity masquerading as love—loving our own relatives while behaving indifferently toward strangers. Some Christians travel great distances to worship each Sunday, passing by nearby congregations simply because those congregations belong to another denomination. This practice runs counter to the unconditional love Jesus taught His disciples.
True Christianity addresses what needs correction with compassion and love, focusing on helping someone out of a problem rather than merely considering their feelings. When Priscilla and Aquila met Apollos, they saw that he was not fully grounded in the truth of Jesus and chose to guide him, thereby strengthening his preaching. That is the model Christians should follow—offering correction instead of avoiding it when teaching is incomplete or inaccurate.
Jesus is one with the Father, revealing their unity, and the Spirit of God works to bring believers together into oneness with Him. Paul taught that without the Spirit of God, Christ is not present in a person’s life; the title Christian becomes meaningless without it. True Christianity is not about division but about God’s truth, approaching everyone who claims to follow Jesus with love and understanding.
Tithing—giving ten percent of one’s income—is a widespread practice in modern Christianity. Yet the motivation for tithing often has nothing to do with God’s love. Many promote it with the hope of receiving blessings, based on promises in Malachi 3:6–15, a passage popular among many denominational institutions. For most, the focus lies on gaining blessings rather than on compassion. Jesus, however, was unapologetic in rebuking the Pharisees and teachers of the law for such hollow practices:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside, they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First, clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean.” (Matthew 23:23–26 NIV)
One of the most frustrating aspects of modern Christianity is how little emphasis is placed on love and compassion. With rigid hierarchies in place, some appear more concerned with impressing the pastor—seen as representing Jesus—than with actually following His teachings. Faith often becomes more about outward appearances before others than about how Jesus sees the heart, contradicting His clear words in Matthew 6:1–4.
Perhaps the worst thing Christians can do is act as if they are devoted to Christ while ignoring His instructions. As Luke 16:15 (NIV) states: “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.” God shows no favoritism; He sees everyone as having the potential to be His child. Galatians 3:26–29 makes clear that outward status holds no value, and Matthew 18:3–5 reminds us that He regards the little ones with equal worth.
Teaching someone to love is like trying to teach God to love—it just doesn’t add up. John reminded us that you can’t say you love God if you don’t love the person right in front of you (1 John 4:20). This comes from the belief that people are made in God’s image, even though our physical nature shows a fallen state that Jesus came to cleanse through His sacrifice on the cross. Only someone who’s been redeemed can genuinely see another person in their brokenness as precious and worthy of the same care and respect as God.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilisation, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, relieving those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions, leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book to be a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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