Questions About Love

disciple1 said:

Galatians chapter 5 verse 6
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love.

I gave up my life to seek a reward, this life is worthless except to know God.


No one can quote one verse in the bible that says, love only not expecting a reward.

God wants to reward his people, but not everyone who says their a Christian is.

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if you only serve God for the reward that He wants to give you I am not sure we have anything to talk about. Sure God rewards us with eternal life, adoption, etc. it's called abundant Love or Lavished Love but that isn't the reason we should come to Christ. We should come to Him with a broken and contrite heart over how we have sinned and been against Him...Psalms 51:17; Psalms 34:18; and on and on and on.

Now as to what I was saying...if you do something out of the reward you expect to gain it is NOT Love....oh and as to Galatians 5:6...I said nothing about faith now did I?! I said that if the reason you are doing something nice is to receive reward it is not Love 1 Corinthians 13...in that case it is just a resounding gong

disciple1 said:

Jesus didn't experience that much love, in this life anyway, there was only about 120 believers in him about the time of his death.

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and yet the Love He knew from His Father/God was immeasurable as it is for us as well.

I believe Love is a choice

one chooses to love their spouse and children and others

Love is kind, patient......
as we mature in faith, we take on more of the ability to love such as not keeping track of wrongs, being patient in difficult circumstances, etc


perhaps that is why so many marriages fail, people do not choose to love everyday
it definitely is not easy all the time for us humans anyway

akaDaScribe said:

I like to present an understanding that i don't have perfectly, but it still seems worth sharing. The experience of loving someone is not a choice, but taking steps to bring that experience about is a choice. I’m sure there are many different ways to do this, but I would like to share one with you that had a profound impact on my view of love.

When we love people, there is a reason, or there are reasons. We value that person. If we value that person enough we can see the beauty in who that person is. We begin to appreciate the value of that person and it stimulates a degree of delight in that person. If that delight is significant enough, it compels us to demonstrate gratitude for the beauty of the value that the person has just from being that person.

God values everyone. This means that everyone has value. If we actively look for the value in everyone, we begin to value everyone as well. When people feel the love that comes from recognizing their worth, many times they will begin to value you as well. When they do, it begins an escalating positive feeling; a loving experience.

I have more to say, but my son want me to watch something with him and it’s impossible to write about being loving while ignoring my son XD bbl

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hope you and your son had a nice evening!

You are on the right track...no human alone can "Love" everyone. To Love everyone takes a supernatural power that changes our vision so that we can see with the eyes or mindset (biblical words) of Christ. But where you are missing it is the idea that Love is a positive feeling; a loving experience. This "feeling" is the worlds idea of love and not the biblical one. The Biblical idea of Love is much more encompassing and can happen even if we don't like someone. For example, I came from an abusive home...I didn't have to love my abusers in order to Love them since Love comes from the Holy Spirit whereas liking someone or seeing their value is an act of the flesh.

disciple1 said:

What about this, Jesus is saying to look for a reward.
Matthew chapter 5 verse 46
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

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this does NOT say seek a reward but that one will be given. You are reading into the passage what is not there.

Go back to your previous post to another poster...the reason we Love is because of the Living God within us transforming us, not for some reward we might gain. In fact, Love is about the other person and not about yourself at all. Philippians 2:3

Galatians chapter 5 verse 14
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

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Amen...every law in both the OT and NT is about Love which is hard for most to wrap their minds around because much of the law is anything but a feel good emotion which is what most people assume love to be.

Neogaia777 said:

Caring to the point that you would die for them, when you do not want to die...

John 15:13- “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."

God Bless!

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this is the greatest Love that one could give to consider it Love but what about the least? What is the least that one can give in order to Love? What about those who think they Love enough to give their life but when it is asked of them they can't? Or what about this passage...1 Samuel 15:22? How does this inform us of what Love is?

razzelflabben said:

this is the greatest Love that one could give to consider it Love but what about the least? What is the least that one can give in order to Love? What about those who think they Love enough to give their life but when it is asked of them they can't? Or what about this passage...1 Samuel 15:22? How does this inform us of what Love is?

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Why do you wonder about the least...?

As for the other, I'm not sure or do not know, what do you think...?

It is very good to obey, and obedience shows how much we love God, but obey what...?

Does disobedience make God love us any less, and obedience more...?

God Bless!

Neogaia777 said:

Why do you wonder about the least...?

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because we seldom have the "privilege" of being able to lay down our life for another. If we are rarely asked to do this, then how can we know if we are being Loving?

As for the other, I'm not sure or do not know, what do you think...?

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as I have said and pointed out a few passages, when we put someone elses best interests above our own, we are Loving them. It's all about humility and sometimes, they don't even realize they are being Loved.

It is very good to obey, and obedience shows how much we love God, but obey what...?

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In this conversation we are obeying Love...many people assume that Love is about sacrifice and I was afraid that you thought the same when you pointed out the Love of dying for another...but Love is more about obedience than about sacrifice which is one of many ways we know that Love is a choice. It is a choice that requires us to yield ourselves to the HS without question but it is a choice.

Does disobedience make God love us any less, and obedience more...?

God Bless!

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this goes to the age old question of whether or not Love is conditional. God's Love is unconditional in that He Loves us no matter....and showed that by giving His life for us However He is not afraid to show His wrath to those who are defiant which many people cannot understand as part of Love. Love is not always a "good feeling" sometimes Love requires correction....

akaDaScribe said:

To clarify, it's "more than a feeling" -Boston song XD

I'm saying that to the degree that to we can see the value of someone's core being, it has a resonating impact. I'm saying that we are told to love God and to love people because they are loveable. I'm saying that there is something loveable and valuable about everyone because God loves everyone. I'm saying that knowing these things, we can actively look for the value in everyone with confidence and if we do we are more likely to see it.

However, as I'm writing this I'm wondering, to what degree this can simply be done and to what degree it is part of transforming to a Christlike mindset. I do think there is some degree to which it can simply be done, but I'm not sure how deep/pure that love can be without God.

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amen...exactly...real Love that is Biblical Love comes from God. Man can show and have an image or illusion of this Love even a hint of it, but in the end of the matter it takes the power of the Living God to Love as we are commanded in scripture...to see with the eyes of Christ and feel with the heart of God and Love with the transformed new man that has the mindset of Christ.

razzelflabben said:

because we seldom have the "privilege" of being able to lay down our life for another. If we are rarely asked to do this, then how can we know if we are being Loving? as I have said and pointed out a few passages, when we put someone elses best interests above our own, we are Loving them. It's all about humility and sometimes, they don't even realize they are being Loved. In this conversation we are obeying Love...many people assume that Love is about sacrifice and I was afraid that you thought the same when you pointed out the Love of dying for another...but Love is more about obedience than about sacrifice which is one of many ways we know that Love is a choice. It is a choice that requires us to yield ourselves to the HS without question but it is a choice. this goes to the age old question of whether or not Love is conditional. God's Love is unconditional in that He Loves us no matter....and showed that by giving His life for us However He is not afraid to show His wrath to those who are defiant which many people cannot understand as part of Love. Love is not always a "good feeling" sometimes Love requires correction....

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Yes, putting someone else's interests or best interests above our own is good, and is love also...

We sacrifice our pride and ego and vanity, and in that way, yes it is about humbleness an humility, that works best with mutual submission to one another by sacrificing in this way... That would also be obeying love, to me anyway... And is like laying your life down, in a way...

It is hard to know how wrath is part of God's love, but a Son or Daughter he does not discipline or train it says he hates, so...

God Bless!

Neogaia777 said:

Yes, putting someone else's interests or best interests above our own is good, and is love also...

We sacrifice our pride and ego and vanity, and in that way, yes it is about humbleness an humility, that works best with mutual submission to one another by sacrificing in this way... That would also be obeying love, to me anyway... And is like laying your life down, in a way...

It is hard to know how wrath is part of God's love, but a Son or Daughter he does not discipline or train it says he hates, so...

God Bless!

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amen

razzelflabben said:

if you only serve God for the reward that He wants to give you I am not sure we have anything to talk about. Sure God rewards us with eternal life, adoption, etc. it's called abundant Love or Lavished Love but that isn't the reason we should come to Christ. We should come to Him with a broken and contrite heart over how we have sinned and been against Him...Psalms 51:17; Psalms 34:18; and on and on and on.

Now as to what I was saying...if you do something out of the reward you expect to gain it is NOT Love....oh and as to Galatians 5:6...I said nothing about faith now did I?! I said that if the reason you are doing something nice is to receive reward it is not Love 1 Corinthians 13...in that case it is just a resounding gong

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Your trying to come up with something against me just to a

akaDaScribe said:

I'm trying to show you that it is possible to work on loving people by learning to see their value. I am also saying that there is a built in reward to being able to do this because it brings about a loving state of mind. And the feeling of having a loving state of mind has a bit of a euphoria to it.

It does not require that you be loved in return, but it does tend to prompt a connection with most people when they sense they are genuinely valued by you. Many people are compelled to respond positively to it because they value you for seeing them and valuing them.

The more you look for and see the value in individuals, the more you begin to value people in general. When you are more connected with God, this becomes a more natural thing to do because you're already in a loving state of mind.

But when you are not as connected, this same method will help you become more connected with God. We call it praise and worship. What you are really doing is focusing on what you value about God and expressing it to him.

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Jeremiah chapter 22 verse 16
He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD.

No one has quoted a verse where God said, don't seek a reward from me, so I guess those people like to ta

razzelflabben said:

if you only serve God for the reward that He wants to give you I am not sure we have anything to talk about. Sure God rewards us with eternal life, adoption, etc. it's called abundant Love or Lavished Love but that isn't the reason we should come to Christ. We should come to Him with a broken and contrite heart over how we have sinned and been against Him...Psalms 51:17; Psalms 34:18; and on and on and on.

Now as to what I was saying...if you do something out of the reward you expect to gain it is NOT Love....oh and as to Galatians 5:6...I said nothing about faith now did I?! I said that if the reason you are doing something nice is to receive reward it is not Love 1 Corinthians 13...in that case it is just a resounding gong

Click to expand...

Jeremiah chapter 22 verse 16
He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD.

No one has quoted a verse that says God said don't seek a reward from me, I know a verse that says fools delight to air their own opinions.


Proverbs chapter 18 verse 2
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.

disciple1 said:

Your trying to come up with something against me just to a

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no I am just saying that if you do something out of the desire for reward it is NOT Love...Love desires the best for the other person not some reward for self as I have shown you in scripture.

Jeremiah chapter 22 verse 16
He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD.

No one has quoted a verse where God said, don't seek a reward from me, so I guess those people like to ta

Jeremiah chapter 22 verse 16
He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD.

No one has quoted a verse that says God said don't seek a reward from me, I know a verse that says fools delight to air their own opinions.


Proverbs chapter 18 verse 2
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.

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there are tons of such scriptures they are all about humbling ourselves before the Lord and living a humble life...how many passages do you want to see? Proverbs 22:4; Proverbs 29:23; Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14; James 4:6; James 4:10; and many more.....remember this whole disagreement started when I pointed out that humility is the core of Love whereas God is the source of that Love.

akaDaScribe said:

I'm sorry if I made you feel judged in relation to your excitement about receiving rewards. There is nothing wrong with that and it was not my intent. I'm trying to relay that there is something more.

I am trying to show that there is a truly amazing experience in recognizing the value in others and experiencing unconditional love from a giving perspective.

This wonderful state of being is something I am beginning to understand and it seems wrong to me to keep it to myself when I can tell others who are looking for that something more that it is there.

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akaDaScribe said:

I am trying to show that there is a truly amazing experience in recognizing the value in others and experiencing unconditional love from a giving perspective.

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You keep assuming I don't love.

Matthew chapter 21
32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Luke chapter 3

7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

razzelflabben said:

no I am just saying that if you do something out of the desire for reward it is NOT Love...Love desires the best for the other person not some reward for self as I have shown you in scripture. there are tons of such scriptures they are all about humbling ourselves before the Lord and living a humble life...how many passages do you want to see? Proverbs 22:4; Proverbs 29:23; Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14; James 4:6; James 4:10; and many more.....remember this whole disagreement started when I pointed out that humility is the core of Love whereas God is the source of that Love.

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razzelflabben said:

no I am just saying that if you do something out of the desire for reward it is NOT Love.

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You're mistaken, and I do love, and try to help anyone who comes to me.

Matthew chapter 21
32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Luke chapter 3

7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

disciple1 said:

You're mistaken, and I do love, and try to help anyone who comes to me.

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I am not judging you, only you and God knows whether or not you Love....not sure why you would accuse me of judging you but I don't appreciate it since there is no judgment offered.

Matthew chapter 21
32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Luke chapter 3

7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

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what are you sharing this passage for? What is your point?

razzelflabben said:

I am not judging you, only you and God knows whether or not you Love....not sure why you would accuse me of judging you but I don't appreciate it since there is no judgment offered. what are you sharing this passage for? What is your point?

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razzelflabben said:

When we "Love" for the purpose of reward, it isn't Love at all because the Love God calls us to is a Love whose core is humility not pride.

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razzelflabben said:

Sure God rewards us with eternal life, adoption, etc. it's called abundant Love or Lavished Love but that isn't the reason we should come to Christ.

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razzelflabben said:

this does NOT say seek a reward but that one will be given. You are reading into the passage what is not there.

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razzelflabben said:

Go back to your previous post to another poster...the reason we Love is because of the Living God within us transforming us, not for some reward we might gain. In fact, Love is about the other person and not about yourself at all

Click to expand...

razzelflabben said:

no I am just saying that if you do something out of the desire for reward it is NOT Love...Love desires the best for the other person not some reward for self as I have shown you in scripture.

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razzelflabben said:

I am not judging you, only you and God knows whether or not you Love....not sure why you would accuse me of judging you but I don't appreciate it since there is no judgment offered.

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akaDaScribe said:

I'm sorry if I made you feel judged in relation to your excitement about receiving rewards. There is nothing wrong with that and it was not my intent. I'm trying to relay that there is something more.

I am trying to show that there is a truly amazing experience in recognizing the value in others and experiencing unconditional love from a giving perspective.

This wonderful state of being is something I am beginning to understand and it seems wrong to me to keep it to myself when I can tell others who are looking for that something more that it is there.

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I don't think you understand.

akaDaScribe said:

I'm sorry if I made you feel judged in relation to your excitement about receiving rewards. There is nothing wrong with that and it was not my intent. I'm trying to relay that there is something more.

I am trying to show that there is a truly amazing experience in recognizing the value in others and experiencing unconditional love from a giving perspective.

This wonderful state of being is something I am beginning to understand and it seems wrong to me to keep it to myself when I can tell others who are looking for that something more that it is there.

Click to expand...

No one is going to let me help them, if I want to know their life story, when Jesus is talking about giving, you give to anyone who asks, you don't require their life story as a condition to helping them.

Hebrews chapter 13 verse 2
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.