Jesus used several parables to show us what dwells in human nature. We need to learn from Him and hate all our sinful nature in order to have a place in the kingdom of heaven. For example, when we read the parable of the laborers who were brought in at different times, we clearly see what lies in the fallen nature of man. We compare ourselves to others and demand equal treatment. They could at least have been grateful for the opportunity to work in the Lord’s vineyard. If the workers who were hired last had received lower wages, there would have been no problem. But because it seemed good to the Master to pay everyone the same wage, without going lower than what he had agreed with the first workers, envy came up as well as all sorts of explanations to justify their discontent. Matt. 20:1-15. Then, it will be as James writes in Ch. 4:1-2: “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war . . . .” God “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt. 5:45. The unrest that arises because we feel unfairly treated by others is often nothing more than envy, causing so much turmoil among people. Many conflicts among people are due to this demand for equal treatment, as seen from their own narrow perspective. The prodigal son’s older brother was offended because his father prepared a feast for his brother. He couldn’t manage to be glad as his father had asked him. Luke 15:32. God gave Cain a powerful admonition when he was tempted with envy, but he wouldn’t listen. Envy got the better of him, and he killed his brother. “And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.’ Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.” Gen. 4:4-8. “Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.” Matt. 20:14. We need to be thankful for everything we receive from God, and stop comparing our own situation with that of others. Satan, who is very cunning, actually tries to use our flesh to show us all the so-called injustice we are subjected to. We then become completely blind to all the goodness and grace we receive from God. Godliness with contentment is great gain. Complaints, demands on others and accusations should be far removed from us. “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. . . . Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Tim. 6:3-6. God is completely righteous, and He knows very well why He allows the one thing and the other in our lives. Our Lord Jesus, understood this very well, and in His high priestly prayer, in the midst of His trials, He could say: “O righteous Father!” John 17:25. How good and comforting it is to know that our lives are directed by God’s perfect leading. Rom. 8:28. We can humble ourselves under His will, especially when we encounter trials: “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” 1 Pet. 4:19.Claude Kue Kamdem

In 2 Samuel 1, David declares his sorrow for Jonathan, who had fallen in battle. In verse 26 he exclaims, “You were very dear to me!” [Norw.] When Jonathan died, David was not gloating—far from it! This love that David had for Jonathan is a very good example of brotherly love. In Psalm 133, David describes brotherly love in this way: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! . . . For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forevermore.” This is also our experience, more and more, after receiving love in our hearts. Jesus says in Matt. 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Jesus Himself is in the midst of brotherly love. The condition is that we gather in His name—not in our own name, not with our own strong opinions, not with sympathy and antipathy, not with demands on others. No—in the name of Jesus. He is the one who humbled Himself. He is the one who loved first. He is the one who died for us while we were still sinners. When we gather in this name and follow His example, we experience what Jesus said. Then He is in our midst, and that is where the Lord has commanded the blessing! Peter writes in 1 Pet. 1:22, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.” In our dealings with one another, we encounter our own nature, our hardness, our sympathy and antipathy, etc. Perhaps we also experience things from others that are not so good, and that is often when our soul awakens: “That was unrighteous!” Instead of becoming evil ourselves or allowing our brotherly love to grow cold, we must do as Peter exhorts us: purify our souls so that our brotherly love becomes sincere, and so we can love fervently from the heart—just as David loved Jonathan! In brotherly love, we show true care toward one another, and we also experience the same from others. Care softens hearts, which in turn increases brotherly love. I may think that someone has weaknesses, but am I able to help and strengthen them where they are weak? This is precisely how it must be, and how we must put brotherly love into practice. It is good to test yourself thoroughly: How is my love toward my brothers and sisters that I am together with? Can I truly say about every single person, “You are very dear to me,” especially to those in the place where I live and where I regularly am in contact with these different ones? Or are there any exceptions? Are there some people that I would rather avoid? Someone that I might secretly rejoice a bit over if things aren’t going so well for them? Someone I can’t pray for? If this is the case, then I’m not really in brotherly love as I should be. Then I need to repent and start cleansing myself. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Praise be to God that we have undeservedly been allowed to enter such glorious fellowship in brotherly love. Here we learn to be tenderhearted toward one another. We are able to pray for one another, and we also sense that we are being prayed for. In this brotherly love, we are supplied with energy and strength to persevere in our battles. We love, and we know that we are loved in return. It really is good and pleasant. In brotherly love, the Lord has commanded the blessing forever!Johannes Nevanlinna