Q. Who would be so bold as to encourage us to love, so that we could receive something in return?
A. Only someone who knows love perfectly.
But, aren’t we just supposed to love out of obedience, because Gods is love, because love is right and best and makes the world go around and sometimes because we just feel like it? Should we ever hope for some benefit, even be motivated by some advantage, some profit, when we love others?
Jesus said…
Luke 6:32 "If you love those who love you,… what credit… is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you,… what credit… is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment,… what credit… is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners’, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then… your reward… will be great, and you will be… sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
What should we expect if we love people and they do not love us back?
Credit, reward, sonship.
In order for love to be love, it must expect some benefit in return, if not from anyone else, then from God himself. We may like to think we are above all of that and are capable of loving selflessly, but even God does not love that way. God is full of self-interest in loving us. He never wants nothing in return. The greatest command is Love the lord your God with all your heart… (Matthew 22:37)
Here is someone who explains loving with benefit in mind even better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKBAbtzMfE0
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1 comment:
This really speaks to me and my current situation. It's so hard to love your enemies in a society that encourages condemnation and hate. But that is what sets us apart from non Christians is our ability to love and reach out to those who don't deserve it. After all we are saved by grace that we ourselves did not deserve.
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