Monday, February 05, 2007

One Way Love

A couple of weeks ago, I heard a thought at church that totally disturbed me and convicted me. Love is not a two way street. It's a one way street. What?? Yes... But no... Love isn't love if its not returned, or so that's what society thinks. How many times do we say "I'm tired of this friendship/relationship... they aren't giving anything back?" Or how many people do we know that are "takers" and just take and take and take and don't give back?  We all know them. We all have someone like that.  Society, and probably even wise council, would tell us to let it go because we can't let them suck us dry, right?  I'm sure there is some truth to that, but why would he say love is a one way street? I didn't get it. And then, as he explained, I got it. I understood. And I was ashamed of myself.

Jesus, God in the form of a baby, came to us to grow up, walk the earth, reach out to the sinners, destitute, and broken: the untouchables. Then he gave himself up and died. Why? Because of love. He so desperately loved these humans, these wretched, selfish humans. He loved them despite themselves. He died, He rose again. But until the day we are reunited with Him, I have to consider this one way love business. Is there any possible way that we would be able to reciprocate God's love to the extent that He would feel like we loved him as much as he loves us? Is there anything that we can do that would make up for what he's done for us? No. No matter how much we love him, it's not even a drop in the bucket compared to his love for us. No matter what we do in his name, for his name, by his name, it counts as nothing compared to what he's done for us. This is one way love.

The next question posed was are we able to love with a o ne way love? I'd like to think so, but it's so hard. I get so discouraged when I reach out to people and try to get to know them, but they don't reciprocate.After a while of being the only one to put out effort, I stop trying. It's a two way street, we say. But is that the right way of thinking? Is that pleasing in God's sight? After all, aren't we supposed to go to him to fill us up? Yes, church and fellowship fill us, but isn't he supposed to be our main source of life, joy, peace, and anything else good in life? Because if he is, and if I want to be like him, and if I am supposed to love like he does, then I have to give all that I have to give no matter the outcome, no matter if it is returned or not. I am to love unconditionally, purely. No hidden agenda, no strings attached. I think then and only then will I understand what Christlike  love really is.