Chronicles of Love, Part VII
"...IT IS NOT SELF-SEEKING..."
We often look at this particular characteristic of love as a "no-brainer" for brothers and sisters in Christ. And I would have to agree that it is easy to grasp the need for selfless love for our fellow Christians if we're going to love like Christ.
However, this is where it's important to remember that the word "love" that is being used in this passage is the same word (agape) which Jesus used when he told us to love our enemies. I am compelled to a much higher standard when I apply "not self-seeking" to my enemies. That could mean allowing the man/woman at Wal-Mart who has a pack of gum versus your 849 items to go first at the check out. Or maybe it means helping them with their 849 items even though they didn't offer to let you go first?
Maybe it means controlling our tongue and our temper when dealing with a customer service representative on the phone when we're in a hurry.
Maybe it means smiling and introducing yourself to your waiter or waitress before ordering him or her to take care of your mealtime needs.
Maybe it means reaching out to, or welcoming, or giving your seat to, or offering a hand to a lost visitor in our worship services on Sunday morning...
However you care to apply it, the face of love becomes more vivid and penetrating as we pull away from "family" and begin applying it to a lost and dying world. What do you think?
We often look at this particular characteristic of love as a "no-brainer" for brothers and sisters in Christ. And I would have to agree that it is easy to grasp the need for selfless love for our fellow Christians if we're going to love like Christ.However, this is where it's important to remember that the word "love" that is being used in this passage is the same word (agape) which Jesus used when he told us to love our enemies. I am compelled to a much higher standard when I apply "not self-seeking" to my enemies. That could mean allowing the man/woman at Wal-Mart who has a pack of gum versus your 849 items to go first at the check out. Or maybe it means helping them with their 849 items even though they didn't offer to let you go first?
Maybe it means controlling our tongue and our temper when dealing with a customer service representative on the phone when we're in a hurry.
Maybe it means smiling and introducing yourself to your waiter or waitress before ordering him or her to take care of your mealtime needs.
Maybe it means reaching out to, or welcoming, or giving your seat to, or offering a hand to a lost visitor in our worship services on Sunday morning...
However you care to apply it, the face of love becomes more vivid and penetrating as we pull away from "family" and begin applying it to a lost and dying world. What do you think?
"...IT IS NOT SELF-SEEKING..."
We often look at this particular characteristic of love as a "no-brainer" for brothers and sisters in Christ. And I would have to agree that it is easy to grasp the need for selfless love for our fellow Christians if we're going to love like Christ.
However, this is where it's important to remember that the word "love" that is being used in this passage is the same word (agape) which Jesus used when he told us to love our enemies. I am compelled to a much higher standard when I apply "not self-seeking" to my enemies. That could mean allowing the man/woman at Wal-Mart who has a pack of gum versus your 849 items to go first at the check out. Or maybe it means helping them with their 849 items even though they didn't offer to let you go first?
Maybe it means controlling our tongue and our temper when dealing with a customer service representative on the phone when we're in a hurry.
Maybe it means smiling and introducing yourself to your waiter or waitress before ordering him or her to take care of your mealtime needs.
Maybe it means reaching out to, or welcoming, or giving your seat to, or offering a hand to a lost visitor in our worship services on Sunday morning...
However you care to apply it, the face of love becomes more vivid and penetrating as we pull away from "family" and begin applying it to a lost and dying world. What do you think?
We often look at this particular characteristic of love as a "no-brainer" for brothers and sisters in Christ. And I would have to agree that it is easy to grasp the need for selfless love for our fellow Christians if we're going to love like Christ.
However, this is where it's important to remember that the word "love" that is being used in this passage is the same word (agape) which Jesus used when he told us to love our enemies. I am compelled to a much higher standard when I apply "not self-seeking" to my enemies. That could mean allowing the man/woman at Wal-Mart who has a pack of gum versus your 849 items to go first at the check out. Or maybe it means helping them with their 849 items even though they didn't offer to let you go first?
Maybe it means controlling our tongue and our temper when dealing with a customer service representative on the phone when we're in a hurry.
Maybe it means smiling and introducing yourself to your waiter or waitress before ordering him or her to take care of your mealtime needs.
Maybe it means reaching out to, or welcoming, or giving your seat to, or offering a hand to a lost visitor in our worship services on Sunday morning...
However you care to apply it, the face of love becomes more vivid and penetrating as we pull away from "family" and begin applying it to a lost and dying world. What do you think?
WOW!
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