The single most important trait we can embody and exude is love. For in love we find our greatest and simplest opportunity to positively influence the world around us.
Love is found at the core of all positive external traits. Our empathy, encouragement, patience, kindness, gentleness, and generosity, all find their roots in our love for others.
Conversely, negative traits often stem from a lack of, or misplaced, love. In today's most consistent and accepted sin, selfishness, we mistakenly place ourselves and our needs above those around us. Furthermore, when we dehumanize and criticize we are able to distance and disconnect from people. While these traits may collectively boost our ego for a moment, the long-term damage they cause to all parties is far from insignificant.
Solomon provides clear writing about the quintessential nature of love and loyalty in Proverbs 3:
“Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty.
Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart.
Earn a reputation for living well
in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people.”
The two-part symbolism Solomon chooses is elegant. First he encourages us to tie love and loyalty around our necks. I take this to mean that we should outwardly display the aforementioned traits. That people should look at us and see those as key elements of our character and persona. This fundamental piece of our nature should not be hidden away only to be witnessed by those closest, but experienced and even noted by each person we interact with.
'Carving their initials on our hearts' is then the internal component. Love and loyalty should be located at our core and used as scales to weigh and drive our thoughts and actions. These shouldn't be acts we begrudgingly partake in to perpetuate an appearance, but experiences that provide us with true fulfillment and purpose.
Each week provides us a ready opportunity to assess where we stand on love and loyalty both externally and internally. Should you find your external love and loyalty lacking, make a concerted effort to be kind and understanding with next person you interact with outside your circle. Should you find yourself internally struggling, I encourage you to read, pray, and meditate on the the topic and actively choose to increase love and loyalty's part in your nature.
Bringing greater love and loyalty to the World is of benefit to both the gifter and the gifted. It all starts with understanding and accepting the fundamental maxim: Everybody needs more love. Acting on this thought, we can surely "earn a reputation for living well."