Grace and peace,
For reflection: What is the love that really matters in our lives? What can we count on to always be there?
I have no doubt that love is the hightest ideal. But of course there are many types of love. Which is the purest? And which endures through all circumstances?
We express love to many people throughout the course of out lives. Our relationship with God is maintained through loving devotion to Him in prayer and service. We tell our families we love them, and our friends. We say "I love you" to that special someone we hope will be our partner for life. All these forms of love - faithful, familial, and romantic - are important and valid, essential to healthy and happy lives.
But I believe that nothing trumps the love of God. Have you noticed that the types of love we learn earliest are the ones that endure the longest? God's love for us begins before we're even born, in the womb. Our experience of familial love begins at birth, and then much later we experience romantic love. Perhaps this is why romantic love is the shakiest of all forms. Ironically, many of us idealize romantic love, placing it highest on the pyramid. We claim that we love our partner "forever and ever." Sound familiar? And yet, think of how many people have a past littered with failed romances that we were sure would never die. We made lofty promises and were given impossible promises in return. At the end of the day, we were left standing dumbstruck and hurt because the one we placed all of our trust in failed; they lied, they cheated, they failed to fulfill our romantic "Ever After" plans.
I found myself in this situation 2 years ago. In my false pride, I had strayed far from the love of God and idolized romantic love instead. I thought I had found my perfect best friend, and she thought the same of me. There were promises, there was the talk of "forever." But like any other love founded on human terms, it was bound to fail. I confess freely that it was my fault as much as hers. I sinned and fell short in the eyes of God, because of my pride, my vanity, and most of all for putting earthly priorities before heavenly ones. Let's face it, human love is far too prone to the temptations of the flesh: to greed, to lust, to anger, to false pride. Still we buy into the notion of a "perfect" relationship, as if romantic love is somehow immune to the dark forces at work in the world. And why not? It's an easy trap to fall into - reinforced my countless pop songs, movies, and romance novels that repeat the same message: "If you're not with somebody, you're nobody."
The truth is this: we are never alone. When has God ever abandoned us? Has He ever broken a promise to us? No, when God says "forever," he means it.
So, I worry when I hear so many people, many Christians among them, fretting and worrying about "finding love." They already have it, freely and unconditionally. Find God's love first, and then the rest will followe. We must keep this perspective. Our human love must first come from divine love. If we are plugged into the love of God, we can channel that love to others - family, friends, husbands or wives, and even to strangers - that's the power of God's love. The message of the scripture is clear in this matter: Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. If the love of God is not our first priority, then all other love will stumble and fall.
I hope that many of us can keep this in perspective as we celebrate the season of Christ's birth. In Jesus, God's love for every one of is manifest. In Christ's sacrifice, we see that God loves us so much, he gave his only son. Our loving relationship with God is the one true love that leads to a "happily ever after."
Peace be with you,
Jason
For reflection: What is the love that really matters in our lives? What can we count on to always be there?
I have no doubt that love is the hightest ideal. But of course there are many types of love. Which is the purest? And which endures through all circumstances?
We express love to many people throughout the course of out lives. Our relationship with God is maintained through loving devotion to Him in prayer and service. We tell our families we love them, and our friends. We say "I love you" to that special someone we hope will be our partner for life. All these forms of love - faithful, familial, and romantic - are important and valid, essential to healthy and happy lives.
But I believe that nothing trumps the love of God. Have you noticed that the types of love we learn earliest are the ones that endure the longest? God's love for us begins before we're even born, in the womb. Our experience of familial love begins at birth, and then much later we experience romantic love. Perhaps this is why romantic love is the shakiest of all forms. Ironically, many of us idealize romantic love, placing it highest on the pyramid. We claim that we love our partner "forever and ever." Sound familiar? And yet, think of how many people have a past littered with failed romances that we were sure would never die. We made lofty promises and were given impossible promises in return. At the end of the day, we were left standing dumbstruck and hurt because the one we placed all of our trust in failed; they lied, they cheated, they failed to fulfill our romantic "Ever After" plans.
I found myself in this situation 2 years ago. In my false pride, I had strayed far from the love of God and idolized romantic love instead. I thought I had found my perfect best friend, and she thought the same of me. There were promises, there was the talk of "forever." But like any other love founded on human terms, it was bound to fail. I confess freely that it was my fault as much as hers. I sinned and fell short in the eyes of God, because of my pride, my vanity, and most of all for putting earthly priorities before heavenly ones. Let's face it, human love is far too prone to the temptations of the flesh: to greed, to lust, to anger, to false pride. Still we buy into the notion of a "perfect" relationship, as if romantic love is somehow immune to the dark forces at work in the world. And why not? It's an easy trap to fall into - reinforced my countless pop songs, movies, and romance novels that repeat the same message: "If you're not with somebody, you're nobody."
The truth is this: we are never alone. When has God ever abandoned us? Has He ever broken a promise to us? No, when God says "forever," he means it.
So, I worry when I hear so many people, many Christians among them, fretting and worrying about "finding love." They already have it, freely and unconditionally. Find God's love first, and then the rest will followe. We must keep this perspective. Our human love must first come from divine love. If we are plugged into the love of God, we can channel that love to others - family, friends, husbands or wives, and even to strangers - that's the power of God's love. The message of the scripture is clear in this matter: Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. If the love of God is not our first priority, then all other love will stumble and fall.
I hope that many of us can keep this in perspective as we celebrate the season of Christ's birth. In Jesus, God's love for every one of is manifest. In Christ's sacrifice, we see that God loves us so much, he gave his only son. Our loving relationship with God is the one true love that leads to a "happily ever after."
Peace be with you,
Jason
