Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NASB)
Love does not seek its own.
As we’ve looked at these attributes of love, I’ve tried to keep our hearts and minds focused on loving how Christ loves. And Jesus definitely doesn’t seek His own—never did, never will. In fact, He was so tuned into the needs of others, He gave His very life for us.
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13, NKJV).
While we may never be asked to literally die for our friends, are there ways we can serve the needs of others rather than seeking our own desires?
How do you spend your time? When you have free time, are you sitting in front of a computer, playing games or just surfing around? Do you watch hours of inane television? Is the latest issue of People Magazine adorning your coffee table?
Believe me, I asking the same questions of myself.
We’ve been given the amazing gift of time, and how we use it can illustrate how we love. I’ve been very convicted—yet again—of how I spend my time. And I really do want to steward my time in order to delight God. And I know He’s delighted when I serve others. When I shine the light of Jesus to a dark world.
When I sacrifice my time to mentor a young woman who's struggling, when I give up a little leisure time to volunteer at a God-serving organization, when I’m on my knees—literally or figuratively—interceding on the behalf of others … My Father is well-pleased.
No, I may not be dying a physical death, but when I seek to serve the needs of others, I sacrifice a bit of myself.
And by doing so, I love a bit more like Christ does.
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