Love is Your Greatest Attribute

If you were to start collecting tools you need to work on your first car, what would that tool be? Or, fill your cabinets with pots and pans to fill your first kitchen? What color palette will an artist choose? Even if you don’t know the direction you’re headed, what would you do to plan your first trip?

These are proper questions, but you often want to know more details before starting the selection process.

Let’s say you want to be the greatest Christian you ever knew. That’s a high goal, but it’s something doable. I think. Perhaps you are missing some humility to think you could aspire that high!

I want to focus on those things that I need to live my life successfully for a few days. Maybe your list of words or attributes will be listed differently, but what words become your guiding principle?

Love

Perhaps the greatest word finds its root in multiple applications (sacrificial, brotherly, sacred, etc.), so this would be my foundation. Not every book in the Bible uses the word, but there are multiple uses of the concept of love. We often see the results of love or the actions taken due to love, and many times we don’t even use the word to define what we witness.

Of course, over time, we find the meaning of words change as we mature. Equally, our concept of love broadens as life unfolds in our own age.

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13 NKJV) In Mark 12:28-30, a scribe asks Jesus to define the greatest commandment of them all. He dips into the Old Testament and quotes from the original source:

• “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NKJV)
• You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18 NKJV)

What we are finding is that Love is not only a concept; it’s reflected in our actions. Actions are often unique to gender, history, even time period. In a hunter/gather time, what would be considered an act of love probably requires great sacrifice, bravery, and hard work away from home. In a “work from home” time, we see love sacrifices to focus on the needs of those gathered around our feet. It’s not that love has changed. No, the concept is ever there. Rather, the actions change due to the season.

Side Thought

We anthropomorphize (attribute human characteristics or behavior to (a god, animal, or object) our pets. I’ve watched Chewy (female German Shepherd) give birth and naturally begin the role of a mother. Unlike mothers from any other definition, she defines her own role. Is it like what you and I would do? Or others in another situation? No. But the concept of nurture and care is something we often call love.

During this same season, my shepherds stirred up some baby rabbits to their doom. No parents to be found. Anywhere. I didn’t see them watching from the neighbor’s yard, nor hidden under a nearby bush. They left these babies to fend for themselves. Of course, something may have gotten them, and these babies were not destined to live long, but we feel angst when life turns on them.

I’m not sure how many babies animals have, but our vet said that’s one reason they call offsprings with a word like “litter” – some are destined to make it, others not. Blessed if they all do, to let’s try again if none survive.

Before we concern ourselves with what another is or may not be doing and count it a loving or non-loving relationship, let’s pause and consider ourselves under the same magnifying glass. Only, from another perspective. You may be surprised what others will think about your “love” for the life you are responsible for.

Final Thought

If we are to mimic the love of God, exemplified by his creation (John 3:16), then we are to love like Christ, who gave himself a sacrifice for the entire world. Perhaps “mimic” is an incorrect word for you, but you get to choose the word that fits you. Replicate. Duplicate.

Love like God, live like Christ as he proves that love… That’s True Love.

Now, love doesn’t accept everything everyone does. An old phrase comes to mind: Hate the sin, but love the sinner. Sometimes it may mean not following someone on social media, affirming them in their wrong choices, or agreeing with everything they might say. Love is reaching a person through the morass of choices and showing love where they are. They may never change just because you exhibit love. Neither should you change.

There is a fine line between “hate” and “love.” It seems it’s easy to flip from one side of a coin to the other. Be in charge of yourself and keep showing love. Else, the hatred you show will be greater than the love you ever had. (2 Samuel 13:15)