Love – Part 3 (A Personal Perspective)
Menanteau Serfontein – 8 July 2021
Parts 1 and 2 of this Three-Part series covered the extensive practical understanding, experience, principles and advice of M. Scott Peck, an American Psychiatrist and Author about Love as contained in his best seller Book entitled “The Road Less Travelled”.
Part 3 provides a brief general overview, on a personal note, of the essence of Love from a completely different perspective.
Donald “Don” Miller, author, public speaker and business owner says “When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are.”
It is easy to love your child and close relatives. It is also relatively easy to like and even love someone who is kind and respectful towards you. We should strive to unconditionally love all people as we love ourselves, without expecting anything in return. If love is our departure point, it makes it so much easier to treat people with respect, dignity, kindness, compassion and generosity.
In Matthew 22:34-39, Jesus explained The Great Commandment: 34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’.”
John Wesley said “Purge me from every sinful blot; My idols all be cast aside: Cleanse me from every evil thought, From all the filth of self and pride. The hatred of the carnal mind out of my flesh at once remove: Give me a tender heart, resigned, and pure, and full of faith and love.”
I am yet to find a better description of what “love” means in practice, than the one contained in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8: “1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.”
This definition of love sets an extremely high standard that none of us can ever fully attain, especially not if we were to try to do so in our own strength. However, by seeking God’s help and guidance, coupled with a sincere heart, humility and perseverance, our love for others will most certainly grow and become stronger.
