Luke 10:25-28 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (26) He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? (27) And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. (28) And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
When it comes to marriage, the question often comes up: Is love enough? I think it is a fair question but often the false answer that I hear experts give is based upon a faulty premise and frankly a bad understanding of the word “LOVE”. The question stems from people that claim they love each other, but they have other issues, problems and difficulties that are driving them apart. Because of that, many people propose the concept that love isn’t enough. The problem is, they are using a perverted, distorted and worldly perspective of “love”. Love is much more than a positive or favorable view a another. Love is far more than sexual attraction or chemistry. Let’s look at the Bible’s view of Love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love suffereth long, and is kind; Love envieth not; Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, (5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; (6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; (7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (8) Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
When we look at the way that Hollywood and the world as a whole portrays Love, it is the exact opposite of what Biblical love is. If we use a Hollywood-esque view of love when it comes to marriage, it will not be enough to hold a marriage together. However, if we pattern our love after the description the Bible gives, then the answer is yes. Love is enough....Because Love never fails!
Some may be asking by now: What does this have to do with our passage today?
Because we are talking about loving God, and so many people have brought over that same perverted, distorted and worldly perspective of love and tried to apply it to God. If we love God as the world endorses, then loving God is not enough to please him. However, if we love God as he desires, instructs and patterns... then most certainly love is enough to please him.
Jesus was asked: How do we inherit eternal life? And the answer that was given was that we MUST Love God with all your Heart, Soul, Strength and Mind. But notice, just by the manner the answer was given, the answer conveys the Love mentioned cannot be referring to just a favorable view of God. So many people act as if they just wear a cross around their neck or the sing the hymn in worship “Oh How I Love Jesus” that it is settled...They love Jesus. But that is not Biblical Love. That is worldly love!
Instead, Jesus is very specific. Love performed in a pleasing manner MUST be done with our ALL. All of our heart. All of our Soul. All of our strength and All of our mind. By its very nature, it cannot be casual. It cannot be with whatever is left over.
Not only that, when we follow the pattern of God, we will learn that true Love is ACTIVE. Notice HIS example.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God so loved...That he GAVE! So why do we think that Love on our part means that we don’t have to give? Instead, many people think that to love God means only to take. I love God so I will take forgiveness of sins. I love God so I will take a relationship with God. I love God so I will take eternity in Heaven. God because he loves us wants us to have those things, but are not just to be takers. To Love God in return, we must also be givers as he is a giver.
Lastly, to love God as he has instructed, we must be obedient.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
The implication that Jesus makes is that we are to keep all of his commandments! That means it is not up to us. He has not left it for our discreation. Love means that we will do what our father wants because we love him.
When we love him in the fashion that he has directed...Love will be enough.
Reflecting the SON,
Dennis Hogan
Questions, comments or further explanation? Contact me at: dennis.hogan@icloud.com
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