Let Love Be Your Goal
By Shawn R. Jones
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:3
When most people think of the word love, a slew of thoughts comes to mind, but most people never come up with their own definition for it. People often say “I love you” too soon, too seldom, or too late. Before you say “I love you,” know what you mean. For me, love was selfless and unadulterated concern for others. Before I read God’s meaning of love, that was my definition based on more than twenty years’ experience as a wife and mother. I love my husband and children purely, unconditionally, and sacrificially.
What do you mean when you say you love someone? Do you love your boss, coworkers, neighbors, family, and friends in the same way? I wish I could say that I do, but only God can love all people so evenly and unreservedly. However, I still welcome you to add love to your list of lifetime goals. To help you in your quest to love, here is the biblical description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
Now that you know God’s meaning of love, read it a few times with a few people in mind and ask yourself if you love each of them according to the above description. If you do not love them as described by this definition, you may want to reassess your feelings.
Dear Lord, teach me how to love according to Your description. Please help me truly love others unconditionally, purely, and profoundly. Amen.
Reprinted from Pictures in Glass Frames
(Ambassador International, 2011)