Human Love is Flawed

            This, of course, is a broad sweeping generalization, but let me continue. How do you define love? It’s not about sex, although true, lasting love does have intimacy as a component. It’s not about looks, because looks fade over time and no amount of Botox or nip/tuck surgery can alter that fact. (Let’s be honest, those who have had appearance altering surgery don’t look natural anymore. They look somewhat fake – my opinion.) It’s not about money, because that can disappear faster than an ice cube in the blazing hot sun.

            Has anyone come up with a definition, an equation regarding love? Why yes, God did. Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians is often referred to as “The Love Chapter”. The actual components of true, God inspired love are found in vv.4-7 of chapter 13.

            “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It isn’t irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. ... Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.” ^{(1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13 NLT)}

                  I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that anything less than what scripture declares regarding love is NOT love at all. At least it isn’t Godly love, for that type of love is UNCONDITIONAL. Anything less than unconditional love is conditional. Our human traits seek to define love on our own. When Jesus told the disciples in the gospels that they must forgive an endless number of times *, we decide who we forgive and who we don’t feel like forgiving. We love our spouse whenever they love us back, but when they are mad at us, we decide we don’t happen to love them at that particular moment in time. It that right? No. But is it human behavior ... sadly, far too often.

            It is my belief that every person, Christians and non-Christians alike, should commit those few verses to memory, because it may not represent the way we choose to act, but it should be. Strive for perfection, knowing full well it cannot be achieved this side of heaven. It’s a worthy goal regardless. Until next time, walk with the King & be blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The verse notes on p.2053 in the Life Application Study Bible.

*Matthew 18:21-22 NLT: “Then Peter came to (Jesus) and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’ Jesus replied, ‘No, not seven times, but seventy times seven.’” 

Note: Jesus answer essentially means that we shouldn’t keep track of how many times we forgive someone. We ought to always forgive those with a repentant heart. 

The rabbis in their day taught that a person should forgive anyone who offends them, but only 3 times. Peter considered himself being generous by saying 7 times.  Could you imagine having to forgive the same person 490 times for the same offense, but that is only a number to represent an infinite amount of times. The key here is the condition of the heart of the supposed offender. We wouldn’t know the condition of their heart so we should forgive and let the Lord deal with the sincerity of the offender’s apology.