Love is God's Way
Paul J. Bucknell
Matthew 5:44-48
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Look at the following words of Jesus in Matthew 5:44-48 . Notice how He combines the two following thoughts: receive love and give love. Those who receive God's love are expected to love.
| Receive love We have received God's constant care and love whether we are evil or good. We live in God's love. No one can deny it. Yes, we might go through hard times, but in the end we all will be accountable on how we responded to God's daily care for our lives. Not one of us will be able to say that God has not provided for us. God rule of love is not dependent on our inherent goodness or outward activities. |
"But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:44-45). |
| Give love Because of this provision of love, we are expected to reflect this kind care for others by the way we treat others. God's love is perfect and constant. We are responsible to treat one another with love. God did not just love the righteous, and so we too are to love all. |
"For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? "And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:46-48). |
Love's Development of Gratefulness
We often miss out on this comprehensive picture of God's love because we take it for granted. We ignore the God who provides us gifts of His love. We like the gifts and forget the Giver. We treat life and its gifts as impersonal. We are told it is impersonal 'mother nature,' something we can take for granted. However, we learn of our colossal mistake when we discover God Himself is behind all His good gifts.
Our sin of ungratefulness has been piling up day after day. We have been cared for and yet we do not express thankfulness. If the so-called good person who claims not to need God would only realize that self-reliance is a poor masquerade for ungratefulness. What parent would permit a child to take and not express thankfulness? Recently, I heard one person speaking of a Japanese high school exchange student who received a Christmas gift. He was not part of the family that he visited with his friend, but having received a gift, he politely expressed his thankfulness, "You are too generous." The host was delighted. With God, though, we have ignored the most basic rule of politeness. Ungratefulness is the expression of unbelief.