Currently on TV there’s a man nicknamed ‘Honey Badger’ and he is looking for love. His hair has never met a pair of scissors and I’m convinced he only speaks in larrikinisms. There’s multiple women competing to make sure they get to spend time with him hoping, to be the last woman standing.
But the Bachelor isn’t exactly known for producing the most shining examples of lasting love.
Maybe the Disney model can help us understand. That chance moment where you crossed paths and just ‘knowing’ that person is “the one”. A smile from across the room, a furtive glance here and there and as the music swells, you’re dancing, laughing, congratulations! Now you’re married.
This must be what love is.
But it’s is also word we use when talking about food, sunsets, movies, friends and how much we’d like a nap.
The fact that love, a word we use to characterise an omniscient, all-good God can be used in the same sentence as the “quest” of a former a professional rugby player to find a girlfriend just doesn’t make sense to me.
So what is the difference?
The Gospel as the defining centre of love
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is it is the gift of God — Ephesians 2:8
This is something we need to reminded of daily. That love is an act of will that is joyful and selfless, purposeful in seeing good done to others. It is a gift given to us without undeserved and we are to do the same for others.
Compared to what we surrounds us gospel love provides a stark contrast
- Worldly love seeks return. While gospel love gives completely without fear, because every other need has already been met (James 1:17)
- One says “what can I gain” while the other only considers “what can I give” (1 John 3:16).
The gospel teaches that we are known and intimately loved by an infinite and good God. This shows us the measure of our value is never dependent people or objects.
When we love like this something greater and transcendent is at work.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” -John 13:35
Originally published in CityEdgeYA
Justin Sayson 