Love is patient and kind and keeps no record of wrongs, and sometimes in our broken and messed up world what we think is love is actually not. Lust, greed, insecurity, and power can masquerade as love and cause a lot of pain.
As a quick reference for the Saturday Slant (on Sunday), here are 7 Things Love Won’t Ask You to Do. Maybe this will help you discern the truth from a lie.
(Important note: There’s only one person who can love perfectly. The rest of us do the best we can, so just because someone isn’t doing the best job doesn’t mean you can’t love them. It’s just good to know how it’s supposed to be.)
Love will never ask you to. . .
1. Violate your conscience or God’s law. Not that your conscience and God’s law are on the same boat, but the sentiment is the same for both. Love will never ask you to steal, kill, lie, cheat, gossip, or do anything else that’s not good for you.
2. Not be yourself. That’s not to say that you might not have some things to work on, but Love sees you as you are and takes you as you are.
3. Work for forgiveness. If you have to do penance to gain someone’s forgiveness, then they’re not forgiving you, they’re punishing you. Love forgives.
4. Throw the game. Love wants you to succeed and to win big and hopes the very best for you. There’s no jealousy or put downs. There’s lots of cheering and believing.
5. Hide. Love has nothing to hide. It’s open and honest and free, so if you feel the need to hide your love, then something’s out of whack.
6. Be a slave. Love is about serving, but not slavery. Love doesn’t deal in a list of do’s and don’ts, and love never pours on the guilt or denies you your rights.
7. Think only about yourself. Thinking only about yourself isn’t good for you, and Love knows that, so Love will never let the world just revolve around you. Love challenges you to be more, to grow, to move. Love helps you become the person you’re meant to be.
Are you loved like this?
The answer to that question is yes. The love of God is no small thing. He knows your name. He knows your heart, and He loves you.
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” I John 3:1
