What We Should Mean To Each Other?

What We Should Mean to Each Other? 

(By Gary Patterson)

In a world increasingly shaped by outrage, suspicion, and division, the question “What should we mean to each other?” is not just philosophical—it’s urgent. Every news cycle seems to bring another reminder that human life is treated as disposable, that people are valued only for their usefulness, and that hatred has become a kind of cultural currency. Yet beneath all of this noise lies a deeper truth: we were created for connection, compassion, and community. And when we lose sight of that, everything else begins to unravel.

At the heart of the Christian vision for human relationships is a radically countercultural idea. In Philippians 2, the apostle Paul writes that we are to “consider others more important than ourselves.” It’s a short sentence, but it cuts straight through the self-centeredness that fuels so much of our modern brokenness. Paul isn’t calling for self-hatred or passivity; he’s calling for a posture of humility that sees the worth of others as equal to—or even greater than—our own. It’s a way of living that refuses to treat people as tools, obstacles, or background noise. Instead, it insists that every person carries the image of God, and therefore every person carries infinite value.

But how often do we actually live that way? How often do we slow down long enough to see the humanity in the person who annoys us, disagrees with us, or can’t offer us anything in return? If we’re honest, many of us have absorbed the cultural message that relationships are transactional. If someone can’t benefit us, entertain us, or affirm us, we quietly push them to the margins. We curate our social circles like playlists—skipping whatever doesn’t fit our mood. And in doing so, we shrink our world and harden our hearts.

The Bible’s solution to hatred, division, and exclusion is not complicated, but it is demanding. It calls us to love—not the sentimental, shallow kind of love that evaporates when things get difficult, but the gritty, sacrificial love that Jesus embodied. This love moves toward people rather than away from them. It listens before it judges. It forgives before it retaliates. It chooses mercy over pride, patience over anger, and reconciliation over resentment.

This kind of love is not natural. It doesn’t come from sheer willpower or positive thinking. It comes from recognizing the love God has shown us. Scripture reminds us that while we were still sinners—still selfish, still broken, still undeserving—Christ died for us. That is the foundation. When we understand the depth of God’s grace toward us, it becomes impossible to justify withholding grace from others. When we see how deeply we are loved, we begin to see others through the same lens.

The Bible also teaches that hatred and division are not merely social problems; they are spiritual ones. They flow from hearts disconnected from God’s love. And because the problem is spiritual, the solution must be spiritual as well. We cannot legislate compassion. We cannot force unity. We cannot shame people into kindness. But we can allow God to reshape our hearts so that we become people who naturally extend the love we have received.

So what does this look like in everyday life? It looks like choosing to listen to someone whose perspective challenges you. It looks like forgiving someone who hurt you, even when they don’t deserve it. It looks like noticing the lonely, the overlooked, the inconvenient—and treating them as if they matter, because they do. It looks like refusing to dehumanize people you disagree with. It looks like valuing relationships over winning arguments. It looks like humility, empathy, and courage woven into the fabric of ordinary moments.

Ultimately, what we should mean to each other is simple: we should be reminders of God’s love. We should be living evidence that grace is real, that compassion is possible, and that every person—every single one—has worth that cannot be measured by usefulness or productivity. When we live this way, we push back against the darkness. We become agents of healing in a fractured world. We become the kind of people who make others feel seen, valued, and loved.

Final Word:  

If hatred is loud, let love be louder. If division is easy, let unity be intentional. If exclusion is common, let welcome be our signature. And if the world forgets the value of human life, let the people of God remember—and remind others—through the way we live, speak, and love.

Photo: geralt - Pixabay.com 

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