rsz_articles_20webLove is the crux of scripture. It is the cornerstone of our faith. It is paramount in our salvation. Love can be both positive, and negative. The ultimate condition is placed upon the object of our love. The Bible describes various things we are encouraged, and expected to love. However, it also reveals certain objects, and ideals that we should refrain from loving. Loving the former leads to eternal life; loving the latter leads to eternal punishment. The following are objects of our love that are rightly directed, and misdirected.

Rightly Directed Love

  • Love for God. “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’” (Matthew 22:37). At the foundation of an acceptably lived life is the love for God. Our purpose in creation is to fear Him and keep His commandments (cf. Ecclesiastes 12:13). John penned by inspiration, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Do you love God?
  • Love for your neighbor. “And the second [commandment] is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:39). A certain lawyer asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor” (Luke 10:29)? Jesus’ reply was the parable that is known throughout the world as The Parable of the Good Samaritan. This parable defines a neighbor as not merely the person that lives next to you, but any fellow man in need, regardless of any differences there might be between you and that person. If God so loved the rebellious world that He gave His son (cf. John 3:16; Romans 5:8), then we also are expected, and should be able to love all men (cf. 1 Timothy 2:1-4).

Misdirected Love

  • Love for the world. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). The love for the world God displayed (cf. John 3:16) is far different than what John writes about in his first epistle. God’s love for the world was sacrificial, and selfless. The love of the world John describes is selfish, and impossible to be had while in fellowship with God. Loving the world is an act of pride, and self-service. “For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world” (2:16). To love the world is to alleviate carnal desires by forsaking God, and participating in sin. Do not love the world!
  • Love for self. “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves” (2 Timothy 3:1-2). Love is designed to be humble, selfless, and full of concern for others. We are called to love due to Christ’s example (cf. Philippians 2:1-11). To love self seems contradictory, for Christ’s and God’s love is always directed toward others! “He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). We should not have a love for self. Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).

God is love, and we should possess love as well (cf. 1 John 4:7-11). However, we must not falsely portray God as one sided, for God also hates (cf. Proverbs 6:16-19). We should love those things that are cherished by God. We should abhor those things that are hated by God. What are you directing your love toward?