What is the reason you live each day in spite of so many pressures and some times hopeless moments? Of course, some people may not know as they seldom stop and think in the humdrum of daily mechanical life. There are some who appear to be enjoying life to the fullest and maximum but sadly, they can be the most miserable people on earth! Because they think enjoying pleasures of sin is the purpose of life. But the reality is, they are so depressed and so abhor their lives that they have no desire to live and can not afford to die also!
What motivates people to indulge in pleasures of sin, knowing they are self-destructive? What motivates people to develop relationships that are fleeting and transitory? Self-interest is the motive of majority of people in the world today. To get something out of it. This may bring temporary happiness and short-lived pleasure but in the long run can result in sorrow, pain, and tragedy. And even in death, as it happened in case of MJ.
Here is something that is permanent and eternal. It is priceless and ageless. It is selfless and self-sacrificing. The supreme, divine quality called LOVE. Let me show you how this love should be the greatest motivation in every aspect of our lives. If this is the driving force behind our existence, then we will be the happiest and most satisfied people on earth.
1. Love for God: Our real existence begins with God because He created us and gave us a purpose and plan to live. Though many may not accept and appreciate this fact. However, realizing this truth brings meaning to our being and living here. That God loves each of us is so clearly declared in His Word and in all His creation. And in particular, God's love was embodied and manifested in the person of Lord Jesus Christ when He lived as a man and sacrificed His sinless life for mankind's salvation. Once you experience this love, you want to love Him back wholeheartedly. In this is the fullest contentment. Not in loving materialism or created things but the Creator Himself. If you love Me, you will keep MY commandments, said the Lord to His disciples (John 14;15). The proof one's faith in God is love for Him. And the proof of love is obedience. God does not demand anything from man but only to keep His commands, so man stays in God's eternal and perfect plan for His well-being. By nature, man is a rebel and always wants to have his own way and so its the most difficult duty to obey God's laws. But therein is the foundation for a stable and everlasting life. A life that has blessings overflowing in this world and unspeakable joy awaiting in the world to come. Are you motivated by this love for God, to live daily and grow from glory to glory?
2 Love for Self: Love your neighbor as you love yourself, is a very familiar statement. Yet many don't realize that before one can really love others, he needs to know how to love himself first. Many think, enjoying the pleasures of sin like using drugs to get a kick and using other intoxicating drinks and indulging in immoral activities, are to show love for oneself. But, sadly, it is the very opposite of loving oneself. It is self-destroying. Knowingly, you are hating your own body and mind when you indulge in such acts and activities that harm your own life like MJ!.
Genuine love for oneself is when you really accept yourself as created in the image of holy God who wants you to live holy life and enjoy all good things He has created for you. And to appreciate what He has already given to you. Many love the worldly possessions and passing pleasures of sin and not their own precious life. It is like grabbing the wrapping design paper rather than the valuable gift inside it. All that is in the world is lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life, these are not from the heavenly Father but from the enemy of mankind, Satan.
We often hear the popular slogan, love life and hate drugs! Yes, love life, your own God-given life. Then you will be able to love others similarly. Accept yourself as you are, an unique being and appreciate all the good gifts, talents God has given to you to thank Him in gratitude and live life to the fullest possible enjoyment!
3. Love for Your Family: It was God's own plan to give a family to man, who was single and never knew and never asked for one. In God's perfect and best plan for man's welfare, He has given a helper in his wife and gifts of children to bring joy to his heart. In such context of a God-ordained marriage and family, children are placed and nurtured with love and care. Man's first love after God is his wife, the better half. A husband is commanded to love his wife as himself. and together they need to love children as God's special gifts to take care.
Today, the enemy of man, Satan, has ruined family set up leading to eroding family foundations. Today family is under attack from all sides. Only the original foundation laid by God in His Word can sustain and empower the family based on love. Practice of love begins in the family and lasts even in the heavenly family. If you fail here, you will fail everywhere. So let love be shown in the family freely and fully. Unreserved love and unconditional forgiveness establish homes and perpetuate the blessings. Let this be your motivation to live, as your family needs your love and wants to love you too.
4. Love for Others: Love survies in giving and receiving. Once you stop giving away love, there will be no love left in your life. Man is a social being and needs others around him. Sometimes, we feel we don't need others when we encounter problems in society. However, man needs others to express his love and also to receive love from others. Love is a two- way street. Love flourishes between two individuals. Your capacity to love is enhanced as you begin to love others around you. The best and most appreciated parable Jesus taught was about the Good Samaritan. The very reason He expounded it is to show how one needs to love his neighbor and who that neighbor is! It does not take long to see the truth. Your neigbhbor is one who is in need! There are people all around us who have so many needs. We have needs that only others can meet. Hence love connects us. Love meets needs and thus fulfils God's command to love your neighbor as yourself. It is next only to loving God among the ten great commandments. Often it is not easy to love the unloveable, unworthy and unfortunate. We usually choose whom we want to love and they are usually the better lot. But the moral of the parable is that, the Samaritan chose to show love and concern to the one who was rejected by others like the religious, self-righteous and duty-bound levi and the priest. Love has no choice, Love does not discriminate. Love does not see anything but only the need of the other. Love is blind to divisive attitudes and actions. Love even covers multitude of sins, so you can love a sinner that the world hates. Though not the sin!
What is your motivation to live? Is it love for God who gave you life and loves you so much? Is it love for yourself as God's unique creation? Is it love for your family whom God gave you to share love and enjoy life together forever? Or is it love for others that is keeping you going with great excitement? Let them all be your motivation in life. You will enioy life meaningfully and will be a blessing to others.
" For the love of Christ compels us,...that He gave Himself up for us, that we should no longer live for ourselves........" 2 Cor. 5:14,15.
Be Encouraged.
A.Othniel
| ><> Letter # 25 (19. 7. 2009) <>< |
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