Bible
Study: 1st John 3, 11 to 21 and John 1, 43 to 51.
Very often,
when we use the word love, we are referring to a feeling we have towards a
person to whom we are attracted to. Love in this sense is mostly all about
physical attractiveness, external beauty, the sound of one’s voice, money or
some selfish benefit. This kind of love is magnetic because it draws a person
to another and for this same reason, it is a trap. No wonder, you hear people
talk about falling in love. To fall in love is to securely lock up oneself in a
trap/cage whereby one is unable to free himself or herself without becoming
bruised.
Thank God,
the bible never advised us to fall in love with one another. Rather it says we
should love one another. There is a whole world of difference between falling
in love and simply loving a person. One involves a fall and the other does not
but more importantly, while one seeks to gain from the other person, the other
seeks to give without expecting anything in return. St. John says: “We know
love by this; that he laid down his life for us-- and we ought to lay down our
lives for one another.” 1 John 3:16. Laying down our lives for one another
means that we give of ourselves freely just as Christ did for us on the cross.
Again the difference
between falling in love and actually loving others as the Bible recommends is
that one is exclusive (restricted to just one person) and the other is general
(for everyone). Again we see that Jesus who is the epitome of love did not die
for just a few persons or just one nation but the whole world. Our love should
never be exclusive, we should love all human beings regardless of age, gender
or race as ourselves. This means that we share our goods with others as John
says “love should not be all about word or speech, but in truth and action.” 1
John 3:18.
Finally,
falling in love quite often leads to sin. It takes a person away from God and
brings about self-condemnation. But the love that God demands from us does the
very opposite. “Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness
before God.” 1 John 3:21. True love draws us closer to God but worldly love
takes us further away from God. Worldly love leaves us no room for prayer and
even snatches our spiritual life from us.
When we
love as God demands of us, we realise that we become agents of evangelization. Our
love for others become concrete in our ability of bringing people closer to God
and not just to ourselves. When Jesus called Philip to be his disciple, Philip
could not keep Jesus for himself, he found Nathanael and told him about Jesus.
That is true love; bringing our friends from the darkness of sin to Jesus. If I
do not succeed in bringing people to Jesus, it means I have never really loved.
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, may I never be led astray in the name of love. Amen
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you. Happy New Year.
Fr. Abu.
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