SPIRITUALITY IS A COMMITMENT TO TRUE LOVE

 Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi

John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down  his life for his friends."
   There is remarkable difference between what the world refers to as love and what the word of God says  love is.  Ironically, what is considered as love for self, community, group by the world is behind the chaos in the world today. More people perish as a result of this kind of love daily than any other reason globally.
       The origin of wars are traceable to a  person trying to demonstrate affection for someone else .In judges 15 , Samson declared war against the Philistines because his father in-law refused to allow him have sex with his Philistine wife  . Most men live their lives with a 'conquest' mentality and are driven by the desire to impress a woman. Adam ate the forbidden fruit not because he was deceived but because he wanted to please Eve,  when he was confronted by God he confessed in Gen.3:12 "And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." likewise there are men who are engaged in illegality because of the desire to be loved. We believe that by conquering more territories,  we would be loved, that's why there are conflicts the world over.
        Marriages aren't spared from the crisis brought about from the world's concept on love. It teaches that one's spouse is to be seen as the source for one's emotional, physical and financial needs to be met and when that doesn't occur, separation is imminent, James 4:1 AMP says " What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?" The world's quest for love is behind the "I Quit " mentally presently witnessed in families and failure of marital dreams. Until the concept of seeing one's spouse as source instead of God is broken, marital bliss would remain a mirage,the scriptures says in Isaiah 4:1" And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel:  only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach" Love cannot function in the absence of faith which comes by hearing God’s word, and unfortunately less time is spent on this indispensable spiritual  resource by couples.    It is therefore , incongruous to think that one can truly love a spouse without  faith .Many couples will quit their marriages if they had the opportunity to: this is the fallout of the neglect of God’s word (Hosea4 :6)
           Love places a demand on the lover that can only be met by faith, without which those who depend on us soon become a painful liability. The scriptures teaches that God’s kind of love requires living a sacrificial life for one's partner and family, it is because of the inherent risk involved in making such a degree of commitment that we need wisdom which can only be obtained through God's word. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8AMP" Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails.."this is the commitment we make whenever we say we love someone.
          It was the driving force behind Jesus' earthly ministry ,the scriptures says in Matthew 14:14 Jesus...was moved with compassion..." We should be guided by the law of love which says in Luke 6:31 AMP "And as you would like and desire that men would do to you, do exactly so to them" Treat others as you want to be treated . This law requires wisdom to function, for instance, a drug addict quoting this law as bases for regular supply of drugs could be detrimental to all concerned. When the scriptures speaks of sacrifice it isn't for all and sundry but for the godly 1 John 3:16 AMP "By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him]."
       Love operates progressively ; a lot of Christians have given up on love because they failed to understand that there are levels of commitment in relationships ,our attitude towards people determines the quality of fellowship we enjoy, Luke 6:38 AMP "Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you." again in 2 Corinthians 9:6 AMP "[Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings." many preachers have lost ministries, gone into terrible financial crisis and some committed suicide because they'd tried to out-give God. That's why wisdom is needed to effectively work in love. Love without wisdom is an invitation to anarchy and death ( Philippians 2:30)
        True love sees the shortcomings in a partner as a reflection of things we desire changed in our lives .We respond to stimuli therefore, a good response from one's partner is a confirmation of a good stimuli. True love doesn't wait for people to change before necessary changes are made rather through the intensity of our love -driven actions over a long period of time, people are propelled to change. True love is concerned about the well-being of others (Philippians 2:4) and is devoted to the course of caring for others as a duty to the lord (Matthew 25:35-40).It abhors selfishness (1John 3:17) and it is also cares for those who hate us ( Matthew 5:43-47,luke6:27-30,32-35) .
         As you read this receive grace to work in a dimension of love for unusual promotion in Jesus name.
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Email :Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com