above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins: (1 Peter 4:8 ASV)
This charge is still in the context that the end is near. I don’t have the reference, but another verse say that in the end men will become lovers of self… and that the love of many will grow cold. It makes sense that if we love ourselves more then we’ll love others less.
Peter said in verse three, “For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries” This is what loving oneself looks like. It can be obvious to others and it can be subtle and disguised. A life focus of love one’s self is empty. It may seem irrational. That to attempt to fill one’s self actually leads to emptiness.
God challenges us to love others. This is tested in life circumstances. These times are trying. We get frustrated. That’s when our love gets demonstrated. We call out to God for help.
As we trust in His lordship, He brings circumstances to us for our testing. These are opportunities for our growth and a demonstration of God’s love to others.
Peter tells us not only to love, but to remain fervent in that love. How do we do that? God teaches a principle of giving in Malachi 3:10. If we give, God will double, triple,… the return. The immediate context is money. However, it could be our emotional resources. We may not feel we have the strength to assist others. If we do it in faith, even when we feel empty, God will honor that. He will fill us to overflowing.
We trust that He will care for us. We no longer need to worry about our resources. When a need arrises, of course we’ll do what we can. The Lord placed us in that situation. We do what we can. This is fervent love.
We don’t need an outgoing personality for this. Fervent love looks different with all the different temperaments. Do what we can with what we have, knowing that God will care for us.
Lord, thank You for Your sustenance. We don’t need to worry about our needs.