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My Community Group at church is going through the book Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples by Francis Chan. We are only on chapter three but so far it is very good. It is a New York Times bestseller. How often does that happen with a Christian book? Not very.

Chapter three emphasizes the importance of loving others in order to both be a true disciple of Jesus and to be able to disciple others. Chan asked us to read James 3:1-12 about the importance and seriousness of being a teacher/disciple. 

James 3:9-10 really jumped out at me. James states “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers this should not be.”

I don’t think that this passage just pertains to literal cursing of others but to an attitude of cursing others. Impatience, pride, unkindness, anger, rudeness, a critical spirit all create an attitude of cursing others. Basically an attitude of cursing others is the opposite of love.

And we know from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 that “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Twice in the past few weeks I have heard people suggest putting your own name in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 in place of the word love. 

Tanya is patient, Tanya is kind. Tanya does not envy, Tanya does not boast, Tanya is not proud. Tanya is not rude, Tanya is not self seeking, Tanya is not easily angered. Tanya keeps no record of wrongs. Tanya does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Tanya always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Wow! How convicting! Take a minute and try inserting your own name in this passage and think about all the ways that you fall short of each of the characteristics of love.

Chan talks about loveless ministry; ministry done out of pride or out of guilt or for other sinful reasons. He states “If you are not willing to make loving God and loving people your highest priority, then stop.” (p.44) In other words, don’t try to disciple others if anything other than love is your goal.

And then he states “So the question is, how much do you care about the people around you? When you stand in a crowd, interact with your family, or talk to people in your church, do you love them and long to see them glorify God in every aspect of their lives? Honestly assessing your heart and asking God to purify your motives need to become habits in your life.”

I don’t know about you, but when I stand in a crowd I am much more likely to think about how odd or annoying people are or about wanting to get out of the crowd as quickly as possible, than I am about loving them.

Chan states “Think about your relationships and ask yourself how well you love those around you.” Sadly, not too well.

He sums it up by saying “Being a disciple maker demands your entire life. The job description of a disciple maker is the same as that of a disciple of Christ. It requires everything. It means following Jesus in every aspect of your life, pursuing Him with a wholehearted devotion. If you’re not ready to lay down your life for Christ’s sake, then you’re not ready to make disciples.”

Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35.)

Can people tell we are his disciples by our love?