How do you love people who are being mean to you?
Question:
My question has to do with John 15:21. I go through this daily at my job. I try to show love for my co-workers at work. But the more I do, the more destructive things my co-workers do to me like hide things from me in my cubicle or move important things from my charts. Watch me, humiliate me, ignore me, make sure I follow the policy but they don't.
My question is how can I show love and love my co-workers and family members if they don't want me to?
Answer:
Yes, the world is full of bullies. There will always be people who prey on the weak and those who are different. "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:11-12). However, I don't recall Jesus asking us to love worldly people, at least not in the sense you are trying to take it. "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:18-19). Rather we are told, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (I John 2:15).
It is not your job to make people like you. Instead, you will always find that some people will like you and others won't. Just make sure the reason is that you are a follower of Christ. "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps" (I Peter 2:21).
What God does teach us is that we treat all people, especially our enemies with kindness and respect. "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:18-21). You don't have to particularly like a person to be nice to them. That is what makes Christians different from the rest of the world. They are only able to be nice to people who treat them well. "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful" (Luke 6:32-36).
What should come across is that you love people. You might not like what they do. You might oppose what they stand for. But no one should doubt that you have the best interests of other people always in your heart.
Response:
Thank you for your prompt response to my email.
I thank you for explaining the verse to me and finding other supportive ones. I prayed to God to help me find the answers to the verses and scriptures. And your email to me was the confirmation I needed.
May God continue to bless.
