Love Will COST you Something.

I recall taking Econ 101 in 1991 and learning that "There is no such thing as a free lunch". This is true where Economics are concerned and so it is where LOVE is concerned. It never ceases to amaze me that people really believe that LOVE is free. Don't get me wrong, when I say FREE, I am not speaking of dollars and cents. I am speaking more from a standpoint of ACTION.

I had the awesome privilege of teaching at the Gwinnett Youth YDC with Ben Walsh this past weekend on the word LOVE and "our" LOVE towards God. The interesting thing that I found from my study is that there are 10 times as many examples in the bible about God's LOVE towards us, then our LOVE towards Him.

What people struggle with most in or out of the church is LOVE. I am not saying that you will ever be able to pay for the LOVE that God has for us. I am saying, you can not say that you LOVE someone and never spend time with them or show them your LOVE in some tangible way. This ACTION could be displayed by praying for people, housing people, feeding people or simply listening to people.

When you read I Corn 13, this entire chapter is about what LOVE is and what it ISN'T . In 95% of what LOVE is, has to do with ACTION. I believe that the Body of Christ has gotten so comfortable with doing Church as "usual", that they forget about LOVE and how to really display LOVE.

Today, my challenge and yours is to SHOW LOVE with your ACTIONS. If you're having lunch or dinner today, show your servers some LOVE by a smile or even better a large tip to show them your appreciation. Perhaps you are at work and see that your co-worker is struggling with a project and you have a few minutes to assist them. Show LOVE towards them by taking the high road and rolling up your sleeves and help them.

There are Songs and Poems stating that LOVE is Free, "Best things in LIFE are FREE", or "My LOVE don't cost a thing". However, the TRUTH of the matter is that LOVE may not cost you monetarily, but LOVE will COST you something!

I Want to KNOW what LOVE is?

According to Dictionary.com, Love is a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection. Sexual passion or desire or beloved person. Most people think of Love in some of those same ways. However, the description in the bible looks much different from the world standard.

This is what I Corinthians 13 has to say on the subject of LOVE:

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

As you can see the bibles' description is a little more involved than the world standard. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, LOVE never FAILS.

Valentines Day is just a little more than a week away and there are people that will feel sad and lonely because they are not married or in a relationship, but I tell you the TRUTH. If you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, there is NO other LOVE that can compare, because He is the Greatest LOVE of ALL. Read I Corinthians 13 today and let God show you His LOVE!