What Prompts Us To Love?
Pastor Scott McGraw
Learning of Love • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 52:23
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Introduction
Introduction
Last week’s message we began a series titled ‘Learning to Love’. The initial message preached was titled ‘What is Love’? (I Cor. 13:1-8)
We spoke of what oftentimes the perception is often love is:
Simply Emotional
People get the ‘willy nillies’ or the ‘goosebumps’ they ‘feel’ a certain way and they call it love.
Sexual Interaction
‘Making Love’ begin the popular term
However, we are fortunate to have God’s definition of ‘Love’ and great description found in the ‘great love chapter’ of I Cor. 13. God says that:
Love is Long-suffering (v4a)
The definition being ‘Patiently endure’, meaning that love doesn’t cut & run when the going gets tough. Love carries you through the trials & heartache. Love does not let the storms of life extinguish the flame. Love is Long-suffering
Love is Kind (v4b)
Love is ‘tender & good’. Love is not violent, nor does it manifest itself wickedly
Love is Humble (v4c)
Love does not seek to rule. Love does not seek to lord over. Love seeks to submit and serve.
Love is Upright (v5a)
Love is not scheming or conniving. Love is TRUTHFUL - never deceptive. Love does not exhibit itself in anything but upright and Holy in manner, attitude and exhibition
Love is Selfless (v5b)
Love does not simply seek what it can get, but rather what it can give! AND THIS IS SO IMPORTANT - because it drives at what is at the heart of love, and the best word that God ascribes to it here, and that is CHARITY.
Love Laments Sin (v6)
Love takes no pleasure in the downfall of others.
Love Continues (v7-8a)
There is nothing that Love cannot cover - for it Beareth all things
Love is Trustworthy - for it Believeth all things
Love Gives the Benefit of the Doubt - for it hopeth all things
There is nothing that Love cannot see accomplish - for it Endureth all things
Love NEVER FAILS!
And so what we hoped to convey by the conclusion of the message was that True Love - GOD DEFINED LOVE - is CHARITY. In other words, Love ACTS. Love DOES. Love is not without motion, true love is ACTION! But please don’t get confused… Not just ANY Action, but actions listed here in I Cor. 13. I say that because there are surely people who would use this for evil benefit.
(Ill.) The abuser will say ‘well it’s because I love you that I act out like this’ - no, that’s not love and that’s not an action consistent with God’s declaration found in v4. The young man will tell a girl ‘if you love me, you’ll ACT on that by having sex with me’ - not that’s not love. That not only goes against Bible in other areas, but certainly doesn’t jive with v5.
Let me give you some Biblical examples of True Love
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, - - - that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, - - - Christ died for us.
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, - - - because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
So as we look at what Love IS and how it manifests itself in Action, I want today to examine the thought ‘What Prompts US to Love?’ - what are the root causes FOR Love - what moves us to Love the way the Bible describes it.
Before we do, I want to reiterate the importance of this love that God speaks of in I Cor. 13.
v1 - Paul said that his Ability didn’t matter if not driven by Charity
v2 - Paul said his Knowledge didn’t matter if not driven by Charity
v3 - Paul said his Sacrifice is worthless if not done out of Charity
Jesus said when asked of the greatest Commandment: Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
With that I have three things that I believe move us to Love (or better yet as the Bible describes as ‘Charity’), and the first (and most obvious) one that we’ll examine is ‘The Emotions that we Experience’
I. The Emotions that we Experience
I. The Emotions that we Experience
Now some of you might be thinking ‘Didn’t he just say that love is not simply emotion?’ And I would say ‘Yes, that’s exactly what he said!’ But we’ve moved past what Love IS, and now we’re examining what CAUSES Love.
You see, you can have ‘the feels’ for someone or something, but if it doesn’t cause you to ACTION in this manner, then it’s not love.
Our Connection
Our connections to people will be an emotional source of love. I wanted to make sure and include this source of love, for all who have siblings have experienced it to be sure.
(Ill.) Have any of you experienced having a brother or sister that you’d often fight with? They’d get on your nerves? Sometimes you didn’t treat them with the kindness that you should have? But then Jimmy Utt from down the road goes to pick a fight when them, how did you react? (Just FYI, my wife has no problem conveying her heart to me - and sometimes, it’s less than charitable. However - I warn you now, if you go speaking ill of me to her, she will get triggered.)
All of this happens because of an emotional connection that we have. And family is a strong bond!
(Ill.) I once knew a man who loved his brother - we’ll call him Felix. (nothing wrong with that). There was a conflict between his brother and I over a stance that I took in the church in NC over marriage vs. living together that effected his brother’s son. Long story short, I went to speak with with Felix about it as he was a deacon in the church - and after going through the necessity of the Biblical stance regarding the matter, I’ll never forget his response. He said ‘Yeah, but he’s my brother’. His connection with his brother caused him to love him - the only problem was, he loved his brother more than his Bible.
Our Connection will be an Emotional source of love
Our Care
Oftentimes when we care about someone or something, it will move us to action as well.
(Ill.) There was a time when I loved NFL football, and in particular, the Carolina Panthers. I know that I loved them, because in 2001 I was ‘long-suffering’ with them. With Chris Weinke at QB, the Panthers won their home opener against the Minnesota Vikings - then proceeded to lose every game after that. And I either watched or listened to each and every game right until the final whistle. I cared about them - and it showed by my actions. I spent time supporting by listening and cheering them on even in defeat.
Now if you were to ask me today if that was a wise use of my affection, my answer would be absolutely not.
You see, often times we set our cares & affection on things of this world - but God tells us: Colossians 3:1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When we care about something, it moves us to action.
The same is true in opposite fashion. If we say that we love, but there is no Biblical action to back that up, it demonstrates a lack of care.
Let me ask you this: Do you care about the lost? Because many SAY they care about the lost, but all too often, they take no action. It doesn’t prompt them to get out of their comfort zone & tell them about Jesus!
Our Care will be an Emotional source of love - which leads to the next - our Compassion
Our Compassion
Compassion (def) Literally, suffering with another; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration.
The ultimate example of Compassion was Christ Himself. Time & again we see Jesus in Scripture filled with compassion - a specific care for another that moved Him.
Luke 7:11-15 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
Matthew 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Matthew 20:29-34 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
Every time when it speaks of Jesus having Compassion in Scripture, it moved Him to action!
Do you know what the church needs today? We need COMPASSION!
We need compassion for the lost!
We need compassion for the misguided!
We need compassion for the lonely!
We need compassion for the hurting!
We need compassion for the burdened!
We need compassion for the hopeless!
Because it will MOVE us to Action - just as it did Jesus!
We’ll tell the lost that there is a Saviour who came to earth who loved them enough to die on the Cross so that they don’t have to burn in Hell!
We’ll tell the misguided that there’s only one way to Heaven - and it’s through Faith in Jesus!
We’ll tell the lonely that there’s a friend that sticketh closer than a brother!
We’ll tell the hurting that there is a Saviour who cares!
We’ll tell the burdened that there is a burden bearer!
We’ll tell the hopeless, that there is hope to be had in this life and the next through Christ!
But if we don’t have Compassion, we most likely won’t be moved to action!
So when we’re talking about things that prompt us to Love, the Emotions that we Experience are certainly a great driving factor. Next is one that we’ve touched on just a moment ago, and that is The Example that we Have in Jesus
II. The Example that Jesus Gave
II. The Example that Jesus Gave
These next two are not emotionally driven, but logically driven. Another source that would prompt us to love is simply our desire to be like Jesus! Jesus said: John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
Peter said: 1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Jesus Himself speaking after washing the disciples feet: John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
In the Example that Jesus Gave, we see first it’s An Example to Strive for
An Example to Strive for
(Ill.) There was a fellow I knew that idolized Elvis Presley. He wore his hair like Elvis, he had the sunglasses like Elvis, wore the rings. It was OBVIOUS that he thought a lot about Elvis, so much that he emulated what he could of the man.
Do you know what the church needs today? It needs people who feel like that about Jesus! There were a bunch like that in Antioch: Acts 11:25-26 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Now that guy I spoke about will never be Elvis, right? But do you know what his efforts conveyed to those around him? Those around him know how much he loved Elvis!
An Example that Makes Sense
When I think of this point, I thought ‘It just makes sense to desire to be like Christ’. I want my life to be like Christ! For several reasons:
Because of what He’s done for us
After all Jesus has done for us - why wouldn’t be want to be like Christ!
Because of the traits that He exhibits
Love, Justice, Mercy, Righteousness, Godliness, Compassion, Honesty, Integrity, Meekness, Gentleness, Goodness, Truth - this is certainly what I want for my children, and it’s also what I want for myself! I want to exhibit THIS character! I want others to see this in me - when they think of me, I want them to think this!
Because of what the alternative would be (‘anti-christ’)
Jesus as our Example simply makes sense!
In looking at what Prompts us to Love, we’ve examined how Emotions we Experience move us to Charity. Then the Example that Jesus Gave. Lastly in what prompts us to Charity would be The End that we Desire
III. The End that We Desire
III. The End that We Desire
Lastly, That is what you desire for your life to mean - when it’s all said & done.
Who we Choose to Glorify
We have a choice to who we will glorify (def) to render (or esteem) glorious (in a wide application):—(make) glorify(-ious), full of (have) glory, honour, magnify. Either God or ourselves.
We can either magnify God, or we can magnify ourselves. You see at the end of the day, our lives will be marked by one or the other.
John the Baptist said of Jesus: John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
John the Baptist said ‘it’s not about me, it’s about Him!’ - he understood that if the focus was going to be on Jesus, it needed to not be on himself!
So what I’m speaking about in relation to a source for our love is our love for God and His agenda. Are we going to MAGNIFY Him & His Plan for our life, or us & our plan?
Let me ask you another question: Do you care about Jesus’ Commands? Because Jesus said: Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Because many SAY they care about Jesus’ commands - but all too often, they ignore them! Paul said: 1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
If we love God, we’ll be moved to Glorify God instead of ourselves
What we Choose to Accomplish
Meaningful / Eternal things or Meaningless / Temporal things
Jesus said: Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
If we want our life to count for something - if we want something to be left standing when we leave this world, we will love like Christ!
Conclusion
Conclusion