Love not the world

Love is not value-neutral, but purpose-bound. The love of God is described in the Bible as a “bond of perfectness” (Colossians 3:14). We are to be bond with this agape-love (the highest form of love). The universal love does not float around in empty space and is always positive and above all available to all. This it is not. There are many areas in our lives, where a misguided love does more harm than good, and ultimately blinds one. There is often a difference between God's definition of love and what He values, and love as I imagine it, live out, invest in and experience. As a Christian, this is not always the case. Just because someone has faith, he does not automatically love God's way! Love can be right and positive, but also wrong and negative. In 2 Corinthians 8:7-9 the Apostle Paul writes: “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” Here love is tested through money and the generosity of love. Certainly not through coincidence, for the love of money is a particularly great evil and a corresponding measuring tool of love (1 Timothy 6:10). Love is thus in principal always the pure practice and related to things which we sometimes don't even really think about. So according to the motto: “You don't talk about money, you have it”! Therefore, we should always sincerely consider (not excluding, but also including the matter of money) what is wrong with our love? For example, if we do not help (when confronted with specific needs), although we are able to help in many ways, then we most definitely have too little love for God and too much love for the world (Proverbs 3:27).

“In the last days”, for example, there will be those who give the appearance of piety, however their love for the world and for the lust of the world will be greater than their love for God (2 Timothy 3:1-5). This will include the filthy mammon. The power of divine love is tarnished by these people. In general, we are exhorted in the Bible, to be cautious with our love and not to hastily lose our hearts to the world and specific things, or people (James 4:4; Proverbs 6:20-26). Misunderstood and experienced love, can hurt very much when one awakes from one's daydreams. Love is a decision and emotional dependency is not love. Not everything that is beautiful is worthy of love. Also the love of money which is ultimately the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). It is a necessity for every day living, and when someone has more than others, then good for him, but it can also happen quickly that one's love for it causes one to stray from God. Also self-love can be exaggerated. We should not become self-centered, but rather edify our neighbor (Romans 15:1-3). Like Jesus. Anyone who constantly seeks recognition and seeks after confirmation, leans towards narcissism and is proud, arrogant and conceited (Psalm 4:3; Isaiah 32:9-11). Love has something to do with my attitude and my actions. But above all, with my peers. That must be, in the first instance God, but also towards fellow believers, my family and the people I encounter daily. One can and must practice this (Micah 6:8). I don't do this when I am always waiting to see if I am approached. Love goes ahead! It does not react, but acts (Romans 12:10-11). Love should be sincere and honest, and able to withstand every external and personal testing. All to the glory of God!

Jörg Bauer