A large majority of girls are easily charmed by sweet nothings of love, romantic poetry and long telephone chats. After all, guys who are good at talking and poor at doing usually stand a much higher chance of winning a girl's heart than a guy who's poor at talking but good at doing. But all is not rosy for sweet-talkers. In the end, his relationships are numerous but short-lived, in contrast to his counterpart who may not be so successful, but is finally realized as a keeper, at least as a husband.
Nonetheless, being the perfectionist that I am, sometimes the drive to be the best of both worlds can take over. (Ironically I'm stil single, so it doesn't always work, at least in romantic relationships) It becomes a bad thing when one begins to tire out and feel like an absolute failure, but I don't want to delve into that part of my life. I want to talk about love and deeds.
As I ponder about the agenda on the prayer list today, to pray for love among the hearts of the youths so that revival can come about, a question comes to mind: How will I ever know that God is working? Is it possible that one can grow in love so deeply in the heart, yet show nothing from the exterior?
I think the Bible's answer to the last question is a resounding no. If one's heart is filled with love, one will be compelled to good deeds motivated by the good intentions that are a result of love. Where is this shown? Let's look at 2 Cor 5:13-14,
If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
Why would Paul even have to clarify to the Corinthians about whether he was in the right mind or not? Using my sanctified imagination, I think that he was behaving and giving with so much patience and love that it had even become strange to them! They had never seen someone love and give with such generosity before, and therefore begin to ask themselves if he and his khakis were alright. So his deeds must have been noticed before he had to explain that it was Christ's love that translated into the love in his own heart, and he uses the word "compelled". He couldn't help it. He had to do it, or he'd feel strange.
Have you ever loved someone so much before that you couldn't help but want to do something good, something loving for that person? There is a bubbling desire, a bursting of adrenaline, and a subsequent immense void if that person rejects your action or fails to recognize it. Love compels, makes us do the strangest things.
Thus, won't it be strange to say that we love someone and then go on to live comfortably doing absolutely nothing loving towards that person? Therefore, love is shown by deeds. The evidence of God answering this prayer can only be seen through visible, tangible works of love.
But there is also one more question. Can deeds come before love? My answer is, yes, why not? We can't always sit down and wait for that nice, warm sensation of love to overcome us, overwhelm us, take control of us, before carrying out deeds of love. It can be the other way around! Taking initiative to love a certain person, even when one's heart is cold, may seem hypocritical at first, but to end off there is decide the conclusion of a movie simply by watching the opening scene. We can GROW to love someone when we start by first doing deeds of love for them.
Jesus inspired that when He said these verses:
You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:38-45a)
When I first read that, I thought that it was simply to make your enemy feel guilty (Prov 25:22; Romans 12:20) or to show that world that as Christians we are different. But that's just the external benefits! What about the internal benefits? By doing good deeds first, love will grow in our hearts.
As we look carefully at the last verse of Matthew 5, Jesus wants us to be perfect like God is. And Jesus isn't a hypocrite. Far from it. Jesus knew that sometimes, by doing good deeds for others first, we benefit by having love grow in our hearts. Jesus is perfect not simply because He does good deeds for His enemies. He is perfect because by doing these good deeds first, He can even love those who took His life. It didn't matter if the enemy's skin was too thick to feel the burning coals on his head. It didn't matter if the enemy was too blind to see the difference among us Christians. But it mattered that our hearts and our deeds are one.
That, my friend, is what it means to be perfect like God.
But when perfection comes, the imperfection disappears. -Paul (1 Cor 13:10)
I find that I love you more not when you do things for me. No no no, I find that I love you more when I'm able to do things for you. It is possible thus, that any hint of acknowledgement from you can make the rest of my day. That's why a non-Christian, who once loses all opportunity to do something, anything, for the one he loves, will find that his love has dwindled away in no time. But for Christians, we have one more instrument to love: Prayer. You can't stop a Christian praying for you, and so you can never really stop him from loving you. -Valentino Casanova
No comments:
Post a Comment