“This is how we know what love is: Jesus
Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our
brothers and sisters. If
anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no
pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or
speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-18. For all the many
definitions we find of love, Jesus not only told us what love is, He
demonstrated it by giving his life for us.
People marry because they are “in love,” but
do they really understand what love is? No, they don’t know what love is, because
they think it is a feeling, when, in reality, love is giving. It is giving up ourselves, giving to meet needs, giving
through what we do, not necessarily by what we say. Love is not the esoteric, poetic love people
write about, but a down-to-earth reality based giving of ourselves and our
possessions to another person. The Bible calls us to love with actions and in
truth.
Do you love your spouse this way? Giving
without expectations? Dying to yourself and giving to him or her, not because
you feel like it, but because it is what God wants you to do? Yes, you are not
Jesus and you won’t do this perfectly, but if you don’t try, you won’t even
come close! Jesus loved you by leaving heaven, living in this broken world and walking
dusty, dirty roads for thirty some years and then dying on a cross for you! And
you cannot give a little kindness, gentleness or patience for your spouse? The loving
marriage is a giving marriage – giving up self and giving daily, even moment by
moment to one’s spouse.
