By: Benjamin Altland
We often have the idea or philosophy if you will that love is what we want or receive in someone or something. In the Spiritual sense, we like to say that we love God because the Lord gives us as His Children (born-again believers) so many blessings and His mercy endures forever. [Psalm 68:19; Psalm 136:1 KJV] In the personal sense, we love someone because of how they treat us and/or how they benefit us and our desires.
But the truest and purest examples of the true meaning of love are shown to us in God’s Holy Word the Bible. The Lord Jesus Christ makes it plain that it is “more blessed to GIVE than to RECEIVE.” (Emphasis added.) [Acts 20:35 KJV] This is not just about giving monetarily or tangible possessions or spending time with another, it extends to the moral virtues of love, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, charity (Christ-like love) and peace. The Word of God also shows the principle of how our conduct towards others and especially to our brothers and sisters in the Lord should be as God has shown to us. Luke 6:27-38 give us the standard that if we want to have love shown to us, then we MUST GIVE love. If we want to have mercy shown to us, then we MUST GIVE mercy. If we want forgiveness, then we MUST FORGIVE. If we want others to be kind to us, then we MUST GIVE kindness to others. If we want others to treat us the right and Godly way, then we MUST GIVE righteous and Godly treatment to others. [Emphasis added.] Luke 6:31,38, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (KJV) [Emphasis Added]
True Love is NOT about how we are benefited, treated, blessed, or what we want or receive. Love ALWAYS is given. “For God so loved the world that He GAVE….” [Emphasis added John 3:16 KJV]. The LORD has GIVEN and shown His love to all of mankind in GIVING His Son, Jesus Christ to atone for the sins of the whole world (John 3:16-17; I John 2:1-2; Titus 2:11; Hebrews 2:9 KJV). If we give ourselves completely to God and keep His commandments, then we are giving and showing our real and genuine love for the Lord. [Emphasis added.]
True Love is –
Sacrifice : giving up what we desire to please the desires of another. [Psalm 54:6; Ephesians 5:2 KJV]
Giving : giving ourselves completely to another. [Luke 6:30-31, 36-38 KJV]
Acceptance : accepting another for who they are, not what you or someone else wants them to be. [Romans 14:18 ; Ephesians 1:6 KJV]
Forgiving : forgiving and loving another when they have hurt you. [Proverbs 10:12 ; Mark 11:25-26 KJV]
Charity : The Love of GOD in Jesus Christ our Lord imparted unto us to follow after. [I Corinthians 13:4-7 KJV]
How we respond to the principle of sowing and reaping and the law of retaliation [Galatians 6:7-8 ; Luke 6:31, 36-38 KJV] will determine our ability or inability to show the love of GOD to the lost and especially our brethren in the most holy faith.
I John 4:7-8,11-12, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” (KJV)
