One of the definitions and characteristics of maturity is an ability to see beyond oneself. “Growing in grace” and “growing up” in Christ is becoming more and more selfless. A baby is totally self-centered by nature. As a child matures they are able to become sensitive to the needs of others.
Love is defined by how selfless one is. “Greater love has no man than this, than to give his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) This “greater” love is here defined in terms of the greatest act of unselfishness. Jesus’ life and sacrifice demonstrated and epitomized this love. Our “God so loved the world that He gave…”
“Unselfish love..is the very atmosphere of the unfallen universe.” SC 30. The love we will experience in heaven is this selfless love. This is a love you can trust totally. Knowing this love and feeling it envelop you gives you “perfect peace.” We have no frame of reference for this kind of love here on earth, except in the life of Christ. (1 Cor. 2:9, ST aug. 1876). It is like trying to describe something you don’t even have a word for. True Christian love shown by the giants of faith, by His followers, and by Christian parents and siblings are wonderful exhibitions of, and are shadows and glimpses of, the perfection of love we will attain and feel and know.
Truly this is why “love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom. 13:10) because seeking to make God the center of our lives and giving our lives in service to others is the essence of its fulfillment. This loving God “with ALL your heart” (Matt. 22:37) leaves no room for selfishness in our hearts. (ChS 192).
Romans 13:9 admonishes us to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This oft repeated text assumes the Christian will love themselves and does not criticize this unless it interferes with loving others the same or more than we love ourselves as in “consider others greater than ourselves.” (Phil. 2:3,4). We are a precious treasure in God’s sight, precious enough to die for. We are to love ourselves, not with “self love,” a selfish love, but with a love recognizing our worth in God’s eyes. We are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people.” (1 Pet. 2:9), truly worth “more than many sparrows.” (Matt. 10:31). While we are in a constant war to fight the “disease of selfishness” (SM2 186), loving ourselves and self respect are allowed. “While we should not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, the word of God does not condemn a proper self-respect.” (DG 42). “Cultivate respect for yourself because you are Christ’s purchased possession.” (DG 144). Those who do not love themselves, who do not have a feeling of self worth, open wide the door for allowing misuse and abuse by others.
Our strongest witness to others is this selfless love. “Oh for love, sacred, holy, unselfish love! Let us as the Lord’s representatives realize what a terrible thing it is to misrepresent the Saviour by revealing selfishness.” (HP 302). “The way to evidence to the world that we are Christ’s followers is to manifest unselfish love for one another.” (UL 257).
This love is the life-blood of a marriage also. “Only where Christ reigns can there be deep, true, unselfish love. The soul will be knit with soul and the two lives will blend in harmony.” (MYP 440)
Over and over again in her writings, the messenger of God stresses the need for this selfless, “unselfish” and “disinterested” ( without self-interest), love in the Christian life. This love is the characteristic of the Christian, and the character of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment