20 years ago this week that Andrea and I got married
12 years of parenthood
Paradox: the things that most limit what I want to do, are exactly where I find my truest self
When we act solely in our own interests then we limit our love for one another. When we limit our own interests out of love for one another, then we find out truest selves.
I think this is what Paul meant when he said “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”
Corinthian church debate over eating food sacrificed to idols
Conservatives wanted to stay right away from it, puffed up by the knowledge that by eating this meat, participating in the worship in another God
Liberals were puffed up by the knowledge
With knowledge, life is a zero sum game, a dog eat dog world. You’re either right or you’re wrong.
With love there is no such limitation. Scripture describes God’s love for creation as a river of life, overflowing from heaven into the dry ground of our lives.
The more you share love, the more there is.
With love, there is always enough
Over the summer we have been talking about growing in God, about being fruitful in our faith. If I was going to sum the whole thing up, I would say this: “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and soul and mind, and love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
It’s so simple, so well known that it can simply slide in one ear and out the other
But take a moment to dwell in that idea. Love lies at the heart of it all
In marriage, we limit our love to just one other person, and yet when both partners give themselves in heart and soul, holding nothing back, then we grow into being people that we never would have been on our own
In parenthood, we limit our own wants and needs to meet the needs of another, and to see them flourish and grow. New life itself.
Neither of these things, marriage or parenthood are the sole domain of love. We can love richly, and live richly whatever our circumstances.
In the church, at our best, we see these things grow and flourish and bear fruit beyond the confines of our families, and spread into the world around.
When we take our love for God, and our love for each other for granted, then we begin to puff ourselves up with the knowledge of our own importance, and our love turns sour. Relationships are broken, we become convinced of our own righteousness, and the unrighteousness of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and, ultimately we lose touch with who it is that God is calling us to be.
Knowledge puffs up, but love, love builds up.
Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and soul and mind. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
“Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” — Proverbs 17:9. Powered by BibleGateway.com.
