The phrase “love” is commonly taken out of context and is difficult for the majority to comprehend the depths of the definition and meaning. The generality of the greater number of the public defines love as hate, which is incorrect, even religious people define love as hate. A person can have an enemy, even hate the person, and still show love to that person. To understand the definition of love is to understand its opposite – that is selfishness. The scriptures teach that it is not a transgression to have an enemy. Moses, the Prophets, Jesus, the Buddha, and the Apostles taught to show love to your enemy. Clearly, Paul taught the commandment that Moses taught.
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.
– Romans 12:17-20
If someone steals a material possession, how would you view the person? Avoidance is a characteristic that, naturally, a human could pursue; thus, the thief could be considered an enemy. Acting unselfishly to your enemy that transgressed against you is interconnected to the moment and action. Harboring resentment, animosity, bitterness, or a grudge will be a deterrent and an obstacle to acting unselfishly in the moment.
A hypothetically example, you’re driving and you see someone that transgressed against you by stealing something. You notice him stalled on the side of the road and you can tell he is distressed, in need to help, and nobody is stopping to lend a hand. Love is connected with action that is associated with unselfishness that stems from heart. Stopping and leading a helping hand is the answer to acting unselfishly, which conquers the darkness. Love defines as acting unselfishly toward the neighborhood. A person that avoids having an attachment to objects will be free from negative emotions, which will prevent a person to show love to their enemy. Jesus taught that his followers must love their enemies.
There are many opportunities in this world to act unselfishly toward the stranger. Within a story format, Moses teaches to be granted with Divine favor, acting unselfish to the stranger is a precondition – an essential requirement. Jesus taught the context to a greater depth of the commandment that Moses wrote down concerning acting unselfishly.
“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is 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 do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”
– Matthew 5:43-47
When a person demonstrates generosity from the heart, without any attachment concerning their material objects – this person is manifesting qualities of the light. Qualities of the light embarrass the lower entities and draw the favor from the Sacred Spirits who are fortified from the Almighty Divine Spirit.
The action of love captures the attention of the Sacred Spirits – the person acting unselfishly combined with non-attachment will be granted spiritual blessings. On the side of the darkness, the lower entities become embarrassed, humiliated – acting unselfishly shames the ego-driven, selfish, arrogant class of existence.
A selfish, greedy, arrogant person needs to deprogram. Moses and the Prophets taught the Israelites to circumcise their heart, which they failed and lost the favor of the Divine in 586 BCE. Circumcising the heart implies changing the heart (the seat of motivation) from a selfish heart to an unselfish, generous heart, the character heart of King David. Change is slow because the heart is treacherous and can cause the person anguish, torment, agony, and pain. Cultivating an interest in others, instead pursuing selfish endeavors, is a beginning to circumcising the heart.
The statement “I love you” is a statement people use superficially, lacking understanding, wisdom, and astuteness. Usage of the tongue can become destructive to a person’s spirituality. The Apostle John aptly taught concerning the usage of the tongue next to action.
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. – 1 John 3:17-18
The Apostle James teaches the importance of fulfilling the law or commandments of Scripture.
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. – James 2:8-9
Acting unselfishly is a prerequisite for a person to be granted with Divine favor. The Almighty Divine Source chooses to act unselfishly through creation; the Almighty Divine Source personified love; the Almighty Divine Source will act unselfish to the person who acts unselfishly to their neighbor. Combined with unselfish acts, a person must be free from Idolatry. The inner heart rejoices from unselfish behavior.