Which Love?

Looking for love? Some loves are a curse - some are a blessing. Which love do we choose?

Some search for a Hollywood style love. Mostly it’s fake, fleshly, and destructive.

Finding the right kind of love can make life so much richer. There’s blessing in relationships with godly friends, in a lifelong commitment in marriage. The ultimate love relationship is to know God.

Sadly, some know only a love that will bring ruin and loss. This is a love NOT to have: 1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

“World”, here, means the system and way of life that is led by satan, 2 Corinthians 4:4 …the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not. It speaks of the evil world system. At the heart of it is a wanting of sin; a refusing of God. John does not say: "Don't love the world too much" but he says, “Do not love the world at all”.

The love of the world is filled with fleshly appetites and selfish pride. The world lies in the grip of the evil one, 1 John 5:19. The world is what appeals to the flesh, and works against God. The world hates Christ and real Christians. The love of the world draws people like a magnet. Ungodly influences and sinful ways bring them hurt and shame.

To love the world and its things is an empty love, with short-lived pleasures. Moses saw what the love of the world looked like. He could have had all the treasures and pleasures of Egypt - but he chose a different love. Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith Moses… refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt… Moses knew that to love the world and its empty pleasures was no match for the blessing of knowing God.

John contrasts the love of the world and the love of God the Father. To know and love the eternal God, and to be in His will - is greater value than loving this passing world.

The Bible tells of some who are “lovers of pleasure” rather than “lovers of God”, 2 Timothy 3:4. Some pursue pleasure and vanities as their god. God warns us to NOT be conformed to the world, Romans 12:2.

Demas, was one drawn away by this magnet, that is the world. He deserted Paul, “having loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10).

The love of the world only brings disappointment and loss. As with Lot – he “pitched his tent toward Sodom”, Genesis 13:12. The love of the world is dangerous to your soul. This world and its love will pass away.

For some, the love of the things of the world, and the way the world loves is all that they know of love. A kind of love people supposedly fall into and then fall out of.

God Himself is the true definition of love: God is love, 1 John 4:8. We can actually come to know the Love of God, to love Him. 1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…

Consider God’s tender love for us. You are “Beloved”! God so loved - that He gave. It was selfless, sacrificial, redeeming love. Look at the love that He so freely gives us! This love is lasting - forever. It’s not temporary - not dependent on feelings. It is committed; eternal. Jeremiah 31:3 …Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love…

It’s the love of Jesus. Romans 8:35-39, Nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The love of God is the greatest truth of all. 1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

The best relationship you can have is to know God. God’s love for sinful man has made salvation possible through Christ’s death on the cross. Truly, it is redeeming love. A love that brings rescue and deliverance.

Ephesians 3:17-19, That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

See how much He loves you!

The breadth - the wideness of His mercy.

The length - to the extremity of the cross.

The depth - he reaches to the lowliest.

The height - His love is out of this world.

Behold His Love. Receive His love. Nothing can separate you from it.

Love not the world. Neither the things that are in the world.

Beloved, Behold what manner of love. The love of God. God the father so loves. Will you receive His love? Know His love. Show His love? It is your choice.

You can know a wonderful love relationship with God, by faith.