Extravagant Love!

I’d forgotten about this series that I began a couple months ago. I’ve been using everyday examples of where our Creator shows us how to love extravagantly.

In like manner we are told to give our lives away, to die to self.

The example of Jesus of Nazareth, our Creator, is to love extravagantly.

A bumper sticker of a couple decades ago said,
“I don’t get mad. I get even.”
Some people found that funny.

Well, that might be funny for those on the outside but an attitude like that has no place in a Christian marriage. Sadly divorce courts are proof that not everyone agrees.

In his description of love, 1st Corinthians 13 Paul says that love, real love takes no notice of wrongs. Instead love shows mercy and restraint. Love understands that our spouse’s behaviour, harmful though it may be is not the problem. Our spouse’s destructive behaviour, as is our own, is merely a symptom of the problem. If we are irritable and vengeful, and selfish. If we’re seeing work that needs to be done around the house but purposely leave it for our spouse to do, those are signs that we have a soul problem. If we want our wives and husbands to have mercy and patience toward us while God changes us, how can we be irritable with our spouses who live under the same struggles?

Try this. Turn to 1st Corinthians 13:4-8 and where the word love appears, insert your own name. For example if I was doing it:

Rod Is kind
Rod Is patient
Rod Is not rude nor self-seeking

(((Gulp)))

We are to be witnesses of love to our children, our neighbours and certainly those to whom we are married. If this exercise doesn’t ring true, it’s time to get down on your knees and beg God to bring change into your life so that you can love extravagantly.

Good luck on your journey.

Zechariah 8:16-17 - These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbour, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this," declares the LORD.

THIS is love!