2 John. What is love?
ampldquoAnd this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commandsamprdquo (6). This definition of love is absolutely contrary to the worldamprsquos view of love, at least in the West, and which is dominated by a humanist view, which begins with a feeling and only then, in terms of a relationship, begins to come closer to a Christian view, which is self-sacrifice. But not always and often not very far.
In his first letter, John says, ampldquoThis is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sinsamprdquo (1 John 4:10).
What is love? ampldquoGod is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in themamprdquo (1 John 4:16).
There is just no way around the fact that God and love are somehow the same. When we fall in love and live in that heavenly ecstasy for a few months, it feels like weamprsquore in heaven. I use ampldquoweamprdquo because I know from reading stories, watching movies, listening to songs and talking to others that that is way others feel too. Thatamprsquos being in God. The problem, of course, is that we make idols of our lovers and, instead of being in God with them, we turn them into God and they do the same to us. The result is Goodbye God, the real and only one.
Jesus calls me to love God first and foremost and then my neigbour as myself. Iamprsquom not supposed to love my parents or my spouse or my children or my friends or myself or my job or my money before God. Jesus gave the great example of love, himself on the cross to redeem me. He gave himself, which means, since God is love, he gave love.
So love is giving without count. Did I do that as a son? No. I wanted to receive. My Sunday School boys said the same thing today when I asked them. Did I do it as a brother? Hardly ever. Did I do it as a husband? Sometimes, but mostly I took or looked to receive love. Did I do it as a parent? Sometimes but not nearly enough to establish enduring and loving relationships. Did I do it with others? Hardly at all. When I re-read the Sermon on the Mount recently, I saw myself as a sad case of shallow love.
I failed and continue to fail to love because I donamprsquot walk in Godamprsquos commands sincerely and consistently. There are many reasons I have a poor record. The one facing me these days is the amount of time I spend with God. Relationships require time together, focused time, not just sitting beside each other, which would mean, if that were the criteria, I have a better relationship with strangers on the subway than I do with my wife!
When I put God first in my life as my true priority, then God gives me what I thought I couldnamprsquot do: love for others, practical, doing, giving love.
Application: In my video chat with my mother tonight, share the sad story of the boy who once came to our church but committed suicide because, in part, his parents abandoned God and bitterly divorced, keeping the bitterness alive with angry comments to the boy about each other.
Lord, let me not be afraid to receive your love and to give my love to you and then to others.
