Imagine a single mom who pours out her life to see her son have a chance at a better life. She works two jobs and scrimps and saves to keep him clothed and fed; she teaches him honesty, hard work, and charity. When he comes of age, she scrapes together her meager savings and puts him through college.
He graduates, gets a great job—and never talks to her again. He sends her a Christmas or birthday card but doesn’t answer her letters or phone calls.
But, he’s good. He tells the truth, he works hard, and he cares for the poor, just like she taught him. He thinks, “I’m doing what she wants; I became the man she wanted me to be. Isn’t that good enough?”
Of course, we would say, “No!” It’s not acceptable simply to live a good life and ignore a relationship with the one person to whom you owe everything.
But this is what many Christians do with God: They do right things for God but do not love him with all their heart and soul and mind.
How do we show God that we love him? Because of the love God has shown for us in Christ, we should “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2 ESV).
Loving other people is like offering a sacrifice to God.
When Jesus was in Bethany, a woman came to the house where he was eating and poured an ointment on his head while he was sitting at the table. Everyone was taken aback, because the ointment was really expensive, and it seemed like such a waste. But Jesus was so moved by the woman’s act, he said that her story would be told everywhere the gospel was preached from that point on, because it so perfectly represented the right response to the gospel: love toward Jesus.
Our acts of love toward others are ultimately for Jesus, even if they seem like they are being wasted on the person you are pouring them out on.
In light of what Jesus has done for you in the gospel, keep walking in love. Show God that you love him by giving yourself to others in service.
Reflection
- What changes about your service to others when it is motivated by your love for God?
- Why do you think God wants you to show him that you love him and not just tell him?
