The way our world sees love is warped and askew.
When did love become a selfish solution to our own loneliness? Something to be bought or borrowed?
Something to be used?
The word 'love' gets thrown around so much that I fear someday it will lose its meaning altogether.
I know you have heard that before.
However, I'm not just talking about using the word 'love' to express your affection for blueberry muffins or for your favorite TV show. I know I am guilty of that!
I do love blueberry muffins.
I'm talking about this game that we play.
A game that abuses the sacred word of love in the worst way possible.
You see, the poor victims of this game can only take so much battering.
After so many failed relationships, the word 'love' has lost its sparkle. Its glimmer. Its hope.
It is only used to describe your affection for delicious baked goods.
Or maybe it has disappeared completely.
The thing is, love was never intended to be selfish.
If the only thing you are concerned about when you enter a relationship is what you are going
to get out of it...I feel like you are already doomed.
If the only thing you care about is how attractive your partner is...you are missing the point.
I know these may sound like obvious statements. That is because they are.
So what's the problem? What are we missing?
Honestly, I think that we enjoy this game too much. Let's face it.
Getting attention feels good. Talking to that guy for the first time is exciting, I'm sure it's
thrilling to ask a girl for her number! And I actually don't see anything wrong in these things.
However, we get bored. When suddenly we notice flaws in that seemingly perfect guy,
or when that girl starts taking too long to answer your texts, we tell ourselves that we
deserve
better.
So the game starts over.
The crumbled remains of previous relationships are left unattended.
Are we wrong in approaching love in this way? After all, we are young. Why shouldn't we explore our options? Meet people. Flirt with who we want.
Well let's see what the Bible has to say about love.
Love is patient, love is kind; love does not envy or boast.
Well I know I am guilty of being the opposite of these things.
I am not patient with people. I'm not even nice a lot of the time.
It is not arrogant or rude.
And we all know enough guys who think they have enough 'swag' to get
alllll the ladies. (And we usually fall for it..right ladies?)
In fact, we are guilty of thinking we are pretty hot stuff once in awhile.
And don't even get me started on how rude we can be.
It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.
Ohh this is a big one. I don't know about you, but I get pretty upset
when things don't go according to my plans. In fact..usually
I insist on it.
It does not rejoice with wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Now we might think we are pretty guiltless with this one...I mean,
if someone murders someone we aren't exactly going to pat them on the back, right?
Ehh..I think it goes deeper than that.
This verse means anyyy wrongdoing. Whether its lying, gossip or
any other kind of immorality, we are to avoid it in our relationships.
Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
This is pretty self explanatory folks, but perhaps the most challenging.
Giving up on a relationship is so common because it is usually the easiest route out.
So I leave you with this question. What would our relationships look like if we simply
lived out what these few short verses instructed us to?
The Bible has so much to say on love..(things that shouldn't be disregarded!)..but I encourage you to
focus in on this passage. Not just in romantic relationships.
But in your relationship with
your mom.
Your friends.
That annoying coworker that's hard to work with.
I firmly believe that until we learn to put our selfish hearts aside, and truly focus on loving
others the way we were intended to...there is only going to be more brokenness.
More confusion.
More pain.
So who's with me? I dare you to passionately reexamine your relationships and fix where there
is errors. I encourage you to fix what is broken and to strengthen bonds that
are already strong.
Most importantly, I pray that you would take a good look at your relationship with Christ.
Who better is there to teach you how to love than the very One who defines it?
When did love become a selfish solution to our own loneliness? Something to be bought or borrowed?
Something to be used?
The word 'love' gets thrown around so much that I fear someday it will lose its meaning altogether.
I know you have heard that before.
However, I'm not just talking about using the word 'love' to express your affection for blueberry muffins or for your favorite TV show. I know I am guilty of that!
I do love blueberry muffins.
I'm talking about this game that we play.
A game that abuses the sacred word of love in the worst way possible.
You see, the poor victims of this game can only take so much battering.
After so many failed relationships, the word 'love' has lost its sparkle. Its glimmer. Its hope.
It is only used to describe your affection for delicious baked goods.
Or maybe it has disappeared completely.
The thing is, love was never intended to be selfish.
If the only thing you are concerned about when you enter a relationship is what you are going
to get out of it...I feel like you are already doomed.
If the only thing you care about is how attractive your partner is...you are missing the point.
I know these may sound like obvious statements. That is because they are.
So what's the problem? What are we missing?
Honestly, I think that we enjoy this game too much. Let's face it.
Getting attention feels good. Talking to that guy for the first time is exciting, I'm sure it's
thrilling to ask a girl for her number! And I actually don't see anything wrong in these things.
However, we get bored. When suddenly we notice flaws in that seemingly perfect guy,
or when that girl starts taking too long to answer your texts, we tell ourselves that we
deserve
better.
So the game starts over.
The crumbled remains of previous relationships are left unattended.
Are we wrong in approaching love in this way? After all, we are young. Why shouldn't we explore our options? Meet people. Flirt with who we want.
Well let's see what the Bible has to say about love.
Love is patient, love is kind; love does not envy or boast.
Well I know I am guilty of being the opposite of these things.
I am not patient with people. I'm not even nice a lot of the time.
It is not arrogant or rude.
And we all know enough guys who think they have enough 'swag' to get
alllll the ladies. (And we usually fall for it..right ladies?)
In fact, we are guilty of thinking we are pretty hot stuff once in awhile.
And don't even get me started on how rude we can be.
It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.
Ohh this is a big one. I don't know about you, but I get pretty upset
when things don't go according to my plans. In fact..usually
I insist on it.
It does not rejoice with wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Now we might think we are pretty guiltless with this one...I mean,
if someone murders someone we aren't exactly going to pat them on the back, right?
Ehh..I think it goes deeper than that.
This verse means anyyy wrongdoing. Whether its lying, gossip or
any other kind of immorality, we are to avoid it in our relationships.
Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
This is pretty self explanatory folks, but perhaps the most challenging.
Giving up on a relationship is so common because it is usually the easiest route out.
So I leave you with this question. What would our relationships look like if we simply
lived out what these few short verses instructed us to?
The Bible has so much to say on love..(things that shouldn't be disregarded!)..but I encourage you to
focus in on this passage. Not just in romantic relationships.
But in your relationship with
your mom.
Your friends.
That annoying coworker that's hard to work with.
I firmly believe that until we learn to put our selfish hearts aside, and truly focus on loving
others the way we were intended to...there is only going to be more brokenness.
More confusion.
More pain.
So who's with me? I dare you to passionately reexamine your relationships and fix where there
is errors. I encourage you to fix what is broken and to strengthen bonds that
are already strong.
Most importantly, I pray that you would take a good look at your relationship with Christ.
Who better is there to teach you how to love than the very One who defines it?
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