PastorGodson Eze THE SACRIFICE, SERVICE AND SUFFICIENCY OF LOVE: 1Cor.13:13. Now abideth faith, hope and charity, these three but the greatest is love. Col.3:14. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfection. Love is all we need to make our marriages succeed; make our service acceptable and life appreciable in the sight of God and men. THE SACRIFICE OF LOVE: John 3:16; 15:13; Rom 5:8; Gal 2:20; Eph 5:2,25;1 John 3:16; 4:9,10; Rev 1:5. There are different levels of love in the New Testament. The first level of love is described in Greek language as “Eros.” This has to do with physical attraction of one person to the other. It is from it that the English word “erotic” derives. This is the kind of love that is mostly obtained and leads to immorality among the people of the world. The second level of love is “storge.” This is the kind of love that leads all mammals to want to protect their offsprings or young ones. This kind of love is not a product of the will or any religious teaching but instinctive; you don’t need to be born again in order to have it. The third level of love is “phileo.” This is the natural likeness or admiration we have one for another. But the fourth and the highest form of love is called “agape.” This is God’s kind of sacrificial love. The love of God comes to us with the concept of sacrifice. Whatever gift we have without this fundamental characteristic of sacrificial love will not mean much. God’s love manifests through us in our willingness to give ourselves for the benefit of others, without expecting anything in return. Love is not just pleasure but the willingness to be friendly and nice in the midst of pains, misunderstanding, tears, sickness, poverty, conflict, maltreatment, etc. With life being a combination of pleasure and pain, the stream of love is kept flowing amid the two. SERVICE WITHOUT LOVE: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; Philippians 1:15-17; Luke 9:1,2,6,16,17,28-32, 51-56; Revelation 2:2-5. Like the Corinthians, too many people do great things without love. But whatever the talent, gift, ability, material/ professional success or height we may reach in the church or national service, if we do not have love, we are like sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. If we know all mysteries, both temporal and eternal, if we have all knowledge of the past and the present, of history and everything in the world around us, of science and technology, computer and internet and have not love, we are nothing. If we have faith that could move mountains - mountains of problems, sicknesses and afflictions and have not love, our great faith amounts to nothing in the sight of God. If we are philanthropic and generous and have not love, we will have wasted our resources for nothing. Love makes our service, talent, spiritual gifts and ability acceptable in the sight of God. It is not just what we do but why we do it and how we do it that matters in eternity. It is disappointing to note that the disciples who were given power to heal the sick and to deliver the oppressed, who were used of the Lord to care for the needy and hungry, who saw the glory of God on the mount of transfiguration were the same people who, moved with indignation, wanted to call down fire on the unbelieving Samaritans. They wanted to cause pains to other people so that they could experience the pleasure of exercising gifts and power. Just because we are given power, authority, intelligence, ability and beauty does not mean that we are to use them without love. Service without love means nothing, amounts to nothing and profits nothing in the sight of the Lord. THE SUFFICIENCY OF LOVE: Matthew 22:37-40; Romans 13:8-10; Colossians 3:12-14; 1 Corth.16:14. Love is such a great thing that even if knowledge is imperfect, even if skill does not measure up to expectation, even if ability is not enough, love will balance them up. On love toward God and toward man “hang all the law and the prophets.” Love is “the fulfilling of the law.” Let there be love and it will make up for the rest. To put on love, we need to put off all that is contrary to love - envy, jealousy, hatred, impatience, malice, resentment and vindictive spirit. Sacrificial love gives our talents eternal value. It turns the ordinary talent, knowledge, ability, service into something extra-ordinary. The mercy, meekness, gentleness, forgiveness, forbearance and love that we bring into service will more than compensate for lack of talent and skills. “Let all your things be done with charity.
Posted on: Sun, 22 Sep 2013 20:00:19 +0000
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