Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up. 1 Corinthians 13:7 (GW)
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NRSV)
It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes. 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NJB)
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NIV)
Love started somewhere. All things start somewhere, but some beginnings are more difficult to see than others. Love is easy. Love always starts with God. It really doesn’t matter where you see it or what context it takes place in, love begins with God. Unfortunately, many people think love is biological, or psychological, but they are using the incorrect terminology.
In our current culture we “love” TV shows, fast food and pop stars. We “love” chocolate, fitness fads and fantasy football. But do we truly love those things or have we become unaware of our feelings to such a degree that we can’t label them accurately? Sadly the word love has become a lazy, throw away word to state our admiration of, desire for, obsession with and/or fixation on any one of the objects listed above and thousands of others. This leaves us confused about genuine love and what we should feel about so many things in our lives.
Love in its fullest expression is the grand motivator of all good things. We need to ask ourselves, “What does God love?” (Hint: “For God so loved the world…”) There are plenty of scripture verses regarding God’s love and the majority of them discuss a single object of His affection: us. People. God loves people; and so should we. But God also loves other things. God loves truth; so should we. God loves justice; so should we. God loves a contrite heart; so should we. I really don’t think God loves chocolate (though I am sure He loves people who think they love chocolate). The things of this world will pass away, but grace, justice, mercy, hope and all of the goodness of God will remain.
This is why getting love down right is so important for the Christian life. If we can get this right, all other aspects of the Christian life will be nourished and grow. Love is the eternal life of God expressing itself through our words and actions. It is the beginning of all other good things in our lives. So enjoy a TV show, admire the wonder of chocolate, but save your love for God and the things He loves.
Chris Yeager Writes Blog 
4 responses to “The Love of God: The Beginning of All Other Good Things”
Chris, good words and right on target, my friend. When I was a child, my father almost forbade us to say we “loved” something like a food or a toy or a pair of shoes. “Love is a commitment,” he would say. “You LIKE that skirt, very much. But save your love for people and for God.”
Over the years, I have grown lazy and fallen into the thoughtless habit of saying that I love things along with people or God. So I appreciate your wonderful post and the reminder of Who is truly worthy of our love.
In that same vein, my brother (whom I consider my spiritual mentor) mentioned not long ago how our culture also calls everything “awesome” when that might be a term best kept for God. When we call a movie awesome, then turn around and call God awesome…the term means little. I’m trying to watch that also. Reserving awesome for the One who deserves the title. Now, I’ll think about doing the same for the word love. Thanks to you! 🙂
Cathy
Thanks Cathy. Great insight from your dad. My Grandfather and parents were the same way. Glad it was of value to you.
Blessings,
Chris
To read about God’s love and how it always hopes and never stops believing really lifted my spirit after a day at work with a situation that wasn’t fair. ‘Keep looking up’ is what I heard when reading about God’s love—because God’s way is the higher and better way. It helps our attitudes deep within and gives us hope.
Thank you for sharing God’s grace and compassion at work in your life. Always a blessing to see how God works in our lives.
In His grace,
Chris