ARE YOU REALLY LOVING?

“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

(Colossians 3:14)

How many times have you said to someone, “I love you?” Did you really mean it, or were you just saying it because you thought the other person wanted to hear it? How many times has someone told you these precious words? Probably more times than you can count. Saying these words is easy, but meaning them is a challenge. 

Not everyone who says “I love you” means it. More often than not, these are just words being tossed about like candy to an unsuspecting child being lured away. Love is not an emotion; it is an action. So, to say to someone, “I love you,” and have no action to back it up makes your profession of love questionable.

If you are professing your so-called love to someone just for the sake of your own pleasure or gain, you will be the ultimate loser. You can only pretend for so long before the other person will see that you are not loving at all. Genuine love should compel you to think of the well-being and care of your partner, not yourself. And your partner, if they truly love you, will take care of your well-being and needs. Manipulation and control are not love. 

Love is not a tool to be used for selfish ambitions; it is a beautiful state of giving. The greatest good of humanity lies in loving and being loved. Don’t play with something so sacred and treat it like nothing. If you truly give love, then you will reap the return of love being returned to you. However, if you give foolishness or selfishness in the name of love, then you will reap the same. Now that you’ve had time to think about it, I ask you again, “Are You Really Loving?”

Prayer:

Father, all these years I thought I was loving, but I may have just been lusting selfishly to gain what I wanted. I see now that love is not an emotional toy to toss around to just anyone or for any reason. It is a purposeful and powerful emotional gift that should not be taken for granted or misused. Guide me in the way of your love, so I can model your perfect love and share it with others. Thank you. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.