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| Several years ago I came home from work and mentioned to my wife that I had almostbought her some flowers from a street vendor. I thought she might be pleased that I was thinking of her. I was operating under the assumption that "it was the thought that counts." Was I ever wrong! Far from feeling loved by this empty gesture, she was offended. In fact, it only served to remind her that apparently I did not think enough of her to actually
buy flowers. OOPS!
Love without action is just empty sentimentalism. It's theoretical but not practical. Expressions of love may be poetic and romantic but without the guts of action behind them they are hollow. One of the most famous and oft quoted passages of literature is in the book of 1st Corinthians in the New Testament: chapter 13:4-7. "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." This focuses on how love behaves,not simply on how it feels. The central point of love is sacrificially serving the one whom we love. It is not in owning or possessing or controlling. It is wanting the best for another person and doing what it takes to bring it about. It is not self-centered, that is, oriented around one's own feelings. It is other-centered, that is, oriented around the good of the object of our love. Love is at the heart of all human relations - husband and wife, parent and child, friend to friend, neighbor to neighbor. For love to have any meaning it must transcend emotion and be put into action. This may be expressed in acts o fkindness and generosity or in attitudes of forgiveness and patience. Love is articulated in telling the truth, in treating people with respect, dignity, and courtesy, and in offering forgiveness. Relationships are not easy; they are messy and require hard work, courage, and fortitude. Love is also at the very heart of God's relationship with humanity. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Throughout history and in all the great literature the ultimate expression of love has always been sacrifice. Jesus said it and lived it: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). And that is precisely what Jesus did. |
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by Rev. J. Patrick Curtis, Senior Pastor |
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