Love in Action

Love in action is more important than mere loving words. Ron believes that God demonstrates his “love in action” toward us – and it is a self-giving proactive love!

Love is an Active Verb

The idea has been immortalized in proverbs, songs and the impassioned plea of the romantic, “If you love me, show me.”  There’s something emotionally stunting about being told you are loved, but not seeing any evidence.  However love is expressed, it has to go beyond words to be considered authentic.  Of course, it’s nice to have the words, too, but if that’s all there is, it isn’t enough.

Love in Action Has Different Modes of Expression

Different kinds of love find different modes of expression.  Lovers don’t have a deep appreciation for expressions that stay within the confines of the inno­cent, dependent, appreciative love of a child for a parent. 

Fraternal love expressed with the passionate eroticism of a lover would be deemed highly inappropriate.  Expressions of protective, parental love within a peer love relationship seems overbearing and stifling.

It is not enough to merely express love, we must express the right kind of love in the right kind of way.  Only then does the one loved sense that this love goes beyond mere words or the psychological needs of the other.

Love Can Cloak Selfishness

Which reminds me that expressions of love can be a cloak for selfishness.  We normally associate love with selflessness and sacrifice, but sometimes professions of love are nothing more than thinly veiled attempts to get one’s own needs met.    

This kind of self-love typically devolves into expressions of appreciation couched in terms of endearment.  So “I love you” merely means “thank you” and not “I give myself to you.” 

On top of this, human love is rather passive, depending on the other to initiate.  We may make some tentative hints at feelings of love, but leave it there if there is not a strong positive response.

The Bible and Love in Action

The Bible has a lot to say about love.  It recognizes various kinds of human love from the erotic to the altruistic, but the greatest passages dealing with love are those which transcend human love and touch the divine.  God’s love is unique because it is untainted by self-serving motives.  It is pure in its expression and unsurpassed in its intensity.

Paul wrote that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” [Romans 5:8]  No one can argue with love so complete that it extends to death. 

We can be sure that there is no hidden agenda, no desire to manipulate.  We can also be sure that it is unfeigned, for who would die for pretence or merely to impress?

God Loves Us

God loves because it is His nature to do so.  He gains nothing by loving.  It is the expression of who He is. 

We, on the other hand have everything to gain by His expression of love, for Jesus did not die only for his friends but for His enemies, not only for the pure and holy, but the defiled and sinful.

When it comes to love, there’s a world of difference between the kind of self-centred, largely passive love most of us are used to and the self-giving proactive love God has for us.

Does love in action come easily to you? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.