As Christians, we’re often deeply moved by the call to social action. We see a world in need and, quite rightly, want to roll up our sleeves and make a difference. The command to “love your neighbour as yourself” resonates powerfully, driving us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and fight for justice. These are undeniably good and vital pursuits.
However, there’s a subtle but significant danger we can encounter if we’re not careful. It lies in inadvertently misplacing the emphasis of what Jesus called the greatest commandment. He said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31).
Notice the order. Our love for God is primary. It’s the wellspring from which all genuine, sustainable, and truly transformative love for our neighbour flows.
The Trap of Misplaced Priorities
What happens when we, perhaps with the best of intentions, subtly flip this? When our passion for social action – for loving our neighbour – becomes the primary driving force, overshadowing our devotion to God?
Action without Anchorage
We risk becoming activists who happen to be Christian, rather than Christians who are compelled to act. Our efforts, however noble, can become detached from their divine power source. We might be doing “good things,” but are they truly God-infused things that point people to Him?
The Illusion of “Good”
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that simply doing good is the ultimate good. While helping others is crucial, if it’s divorced from the intention of showing the world who God is – His love, His mercy, His justice, His offer of redemption – then we’re missing the most profound part of our calling. We can end up presenting a purely humanitarian effort, which, while valuable, falls short of the full Gospel.
Burnout and Misdirection
When our efforts are fuelled solely by human compassion or a desire to fix the world’s problems in our own strength, we can quickly become exhausted, disillusioned, or even proud. We might also inadvertently lead people to admire our efforts rather than to see God working through us. The focus shifts from His glory to our deeds.
Missing the “Why”
If our love for our neighbour isn’t an outflow of our love for God, we can lose sight of the eternal perspective. Our social action should ideally be a tangible expression of God’s love, inviting people to experience Him. Without that divine connection, we are offering temporary solutions without addressing the deepest spiritual needs.
The True Source of Impactful Action
When our love for God is rightly prioritised – when we are daily cultivating our relationship with Him, seeking His will, and drawing strength from His presence – then our love for our neighbour takes on a different quality.
- It’s empowered by His Spirit, not just our own finite energy.
- It’s guided by His wisdom, ensuring our efforts are truly effective and aligned with His purposes.
- It’s infused with His love, making our actions a clearer reflection of His character.
- It ultimately points others towards Him, the true source of all hope and restoration.
Our good works then become signposts, not just solutions. They become opportunities to declare, through word and deed, the goodness and love of the God who first loved us.
So, let’s embrace social action with passion and conviction. But let’s ensure it’s rooted firmly in a vibrant, all-consuming love for God. When He is our first love, our efforts to love our neighbour will not only bring practical help but will also carry the potential to reveal the glorious, life-changing reality of who God is to a watching world. And that, ultimately, is the greatest good we can ever hope to achieve.
Take a look at this website for further reading.
Rev Darrow
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