Love Seeks Not Her Own

Charity..."seeketh not her own..." I Corinthians 13:5

Our dog, Jasmine, turned a year old this spring. Before her, we had a sweet, old dog named Bizmark. Where Jasmine is all about fun, Bizmark was all about loyally guarding and lending an empathetic ear—well, that is how we choose to remember him.

We tend to give dogs high regard for their faithfulness, their loyalty, and their friendship. In truth, they are all about themselves. I love dogs, and I confess, much prefer their company to some people's company (dogs are less judgmental), but truth is, they're all about themselves.

Jasmine loves grand adventures and can’t resist the great temptation the front door (rather the world outside the front door) presents. She whines and howls and paces when we enter or exit the house. She even breaks the "no dog on the couches" rule. You might mistake her antics as missing us or worrying about where we are. Boy is that wrong.

First chance Jasmine gets, she bolts out the front door, smiling face, tail straight out and ring like a crazed lunatic from house to house, through flowerbeds, greeting each neighbor’s dog, and dodging cars, kids, and anyone who threatens to stop her.

No, all that whining in the house had nothing to do with missing us and everything to do with her love of adventure.

We go after her whistling and calling, and what does she do? She plays the Gingerbread Boy Game, "Catch me if you can." She runs straight at us and between our legs and the expression on her face is one of pure ecstasy. Oh she's having fun. Then like lightning, she's down the street at the next neighbor's house and stops. She looks over her shoulder and laughs...well, that's what it seems like. As soon as we get close enough to grab her collar she streaks by us with her tail straight out, a taunting flag of victory.

Eventually she tires (after we've wasted precious minutes and experienced embarrassing nose dives) and allows us to capture her.

No. I'm quite certain that Jasmine does not love us...at least not when a good chase can be had.
I confess that I too can fake a great concern for someone with a motivation to obtain what I want. Come on now, you've done it too. We all have plural motives. Sometimes we help someone to have a good standing with God or our church, sometimes to get attention, and sometimes we help someone so that he will owe us later.

But true love, a Christ-like love, will not go through life seeking to satisfy her own desires.

God didn't need to create us with a will. He didn't need us at all. But He did for His glory and His good pleasure—and then we let Him down.

The sin in our life is repulsive to Him, yet He seeks us out. Have you ever lied? Read Proverbs 6:16-19.

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Everyone has told a lie at some time in his life. Therefore, everyone has done abominable things.
Did you know that liars are destined for the lake of fire? Read Revelations 21:8.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Now picture God agonizing over the thought that you are going to be in that lake of fire. Because He loves you, He doesn't want that for you. He's going to do all He can to rescue you. So He comes down to earth as Jesus Christ, endures all sorts of hardships, and ultimately submits Himself as the perfect sacrifice on the cross, dying for your sins.

He didn't have to do it. No one could make Him, but He chose to because He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (yup, that's you and me). Ezekiel 33:11

...I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live...

Can you beat that for love? God didn't seek His own. He could have destroyed us and created a new being to worship Him (He has the angels, after all). We don't deserve to live, but He gave up Heaven, and chose to suffer and die just for us. Indeed, He has shown us what true love is.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lynn Squire loves the Lord, loves her husband, and loves her three children. When she's not serving her church or serving her family, she writes. Her book, Joab's Fire, is now available on Amazon.com. You can read more of her work at www.PresentingBiblicalTruths.com.