1 Corinthians 13:5: “Love seeketh not her own.”
The love or “charity” mentioned in the KJV is the Greek word, agape. This is a very challenging subject because we who call ourselves Christians can do so many thigs in the name of love and yet may find out on Judgement Day that the love we thought we had was not the true type of love God requires.
False love seeks to draw attention to itself. It does things for others, which is a good thing to do, but the motive is wrong because it is done for self-satisfaction. It seeks the praises of men.
It seeks to be noticed.
It seeks recognition.
It seeks applause.
It seeks rewards.
God’s love does not do things for others to receive ward. It may be rewarded but that is not the motive. God’s love does not care for itself, but rather for other’s needs.
The same word in the Greek is used for 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.”
God’s love is self-sacrificial. It loves to the point where no cost is too high to pay to bring help, deliverance, and blessing.
God’s love does not consider the worthiness of the individual requiring help.
This agape love is also mentioned in Romans 5:8: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” We were totally unworthy.
When we exercise this agape love (selfless love) which is the purest form of love, God sees to it that we will be rewarded, but from the giver’s perspective reward is not the motivation.
Isaiah 53: 10, 11: “When thou shalt make his soul an offering for us, he shall see his seed (those who will be saved through His sacrifice), he shall prolong his days (He shall live forever following His resurrection), and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied.”
Jesus Christ will be satisfied with the reward of all who have passed from death unto life. However, the reward was never the reason for such a display of agape love. The true reason for agape love is purely selfless love for someone else’s need.
When the day comes when God will give rewards for our love to others in their time of need, or to obey whatever Gpd calls us to do, the rewards will be based upon the true motive of our love. Self-seeking love will never be rewarded by God.
As parents we must show to our families this sacrificial, selfless love and teach them that this the way God wants them to love others in need.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell