In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins. Beloved, if God loves us so [very much], we also ought to love one another.
—1 John 4:10, 11
—1 John 4:10, 11
Have you ever gone through a time in your life when you thought something would make you happy, and then when you got, it didn’t make you happy at all? Maybe you were thrilled for a little while, but you soon realized it wouldn’t bring deep, lasting happiness to your life? Lots of people do that. They think they will be happy if they get a raise, or a new house, or a new car or something else that money can buy. They are focused on what they can get, not what they can give. These pursuits never lead to happiness!
The right way to happiness lies in caring for others and giving to them, not in seeing how much we can accumulate for ourselves. I have learned this by personal experience. In fact, becoming a giver has brought me levels of happiness I never knew were possible. Giving is a great joy!
When we love, we must give; giving is the very nature of love. God is love, and He is the ultimate Giver. John 3:16 proves this: “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost), but have eternal (everlasting) life.”
When we have God’s love in us, we can give it away. We can choose to love others lavishly. We can love them unconditionally as He has loved us. Everyone in the world desires to be loved and to be accepted. The love of God is the most wonderful gift we are given. It flows to us, and then it should flow through us to others.
Love God Today: Lord, it is amazing to me that you love me so much. Help me to remember that you give me so much love that there’s plenty for me to share!
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