I John 4:7-11 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Let me expose the selfishness of man’s love a little bit. Take the “Storge” love for instance which is supposed to be a natural affection of parents for children. You would think this one has to be love but you will be amazed that for the natural man it’s selfish and self-seeking.
Have you not heard or seen parents who kill their unborn babies in abortion because it’s inconvenient for them? Whose interest are they looking at? The baby or theirs? What about those who dump the baby in drainages after birth? You think it’s natural for a parent to care for their children? I tell you, IT’S NOT. Many of us are victims of fathers or mothers who neglected caring and loving their children. And even for the parents who do take care of their children, some are for selfish reasons. Haven’t you heard a parent say, “I took care of you when you were young, so that you will take care of me when I am old”? Many of them do it for what they will get back later in life. Is that not selfishness?
Granted, some parents do very well and sacrifice much to take their children to the best schools in the world, and provide them with good care. But most of these are for the parents ego and selfish pride. They want to be able to boast to their friends, “My daughter is a doctor at xyz hospital”, “My son is offering engineering at that Ivy league university “, etc. This is what makes some parents force their wards to do the course even if sincerely that course is not something the child loves or has passion for. Even if that occupation will make the child miserable for the rest of his/her life, it doesn’t matter; so long as it brings fame and recognition to the parent, you must do it. What do you call that? LOVE, or SELF-INTEREST?
What I am saying is,
When the natural man says love, he means selfishness, even parents sometimes. Some try their best but rooted deep at the heart of what they do is some degree of self-benefit. They can’t help it. This is why Apostle John says, ‘EVERYONE WHO LOVES IS BORN OF GOD AND KNOWS GOD. HE WHO DOES NOT LOVE DOES NOT KNOW GOD, FOR GOD IS LOVE.’ TRUE LOVE FROM A PARENT TO THEIR CHILDREN CAN ONLY COME FROM GOD AND NOT FROM THEMSELVES. Hallelujah!
GRACEFUL MORNING
