"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight…”
If you recall from last time, we explored Paul’s idea of
ridiculous love. Love that abounds to those around us; love that gets involved,
is proactive, is costly in time and resources, and don’t forget this: is given
in joy. Comparing that description to my
life…I do not love ridiculously.
Many of you are gifted with a big heart that welcomes and
loves and cares for others. But maybe
there are a few of you like me who find it a little more difficult to love. I am often frustrated by my lack of “feeling”
towards others. I hear people tell how their hearts are broken for orphans or
their love for Muslims caused them to sell everything and move to Iraq. That doesn’t really happen for me; I wish it
did.
While I am often concerned about issues and for groups of
people, my heart is rarely overwhelmed by what I would call love. I’m learning that that’s okay; my feelings are
a very small part of the equation. What
matters is the action I take based upon the concern/love that I have. I’m not let off the hook until my feelings warm
up – we are called to love, and act on that love, regardless of our “feelings”.
As CS Lewis says:
“Do
not waste time bothering whether you “love” your neighbor; act as if you did. As
soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as
if you loved someone you will presently come to love him.”
The action of love is the imperative; the feeling of love
is a bonus. The important thing is that
you submit your will to God and love others the best you can in all
circumstances. As you love the best you can, the Spirit will empower you to
love the best that He can.
With the Spirit’s help, we will begin to love like God
loves – unconditionally, sacrificially, and without thought for self – that is
ridiculous love!
“Christian love, either towards God or
towards man, is an affair of the will.”
– CS Lewis
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