Selfless Love

I realized how selfish my love for other people is. When was the last time I appreciated a person, and bestowed my love upon them, for the sheer fact of their existence? I can't recall.

I find that I tend to quantify the love I have for others, and I am finding that it trends upward when they give me something, or act out a certain role in my life. The more someone does something for me or even appreciates me, the more I tend to love/value them. This is so inherently selfish, it is a little bit repulsive.

Yet within lies a double-edged sword. I don't like it when others approach me with this mentality; I hate it. But I quietly carry my own ruler inside me, and use it to shower my "love" on others in my life.

I am in awe at how--radically--different Jesus' love was. He gave without expecting back. He showered love on those who could not even return to thank Him. (see Luke 17:11-19) He gave freely and in abundance to many (see Matthew 14:18-20), not just those he held near and dear.

This ties into one more lesson God is instilling in my heart right now. My neighbor, my brother and sister, are so much more than I used to think them. Jesus had a wide view of the world: everyone was Jesus' neighbor, his brother, sister, mother. He treated them all with truly selfless love. I want to love like that, Jesus. Please weed out this self-centered love in my heart that masquerades itself falsely as "selfless" love. Please break my heart in love for my enemies, for those who refuse my love, and for those who don't expect it.

For love is not self-seeking... [1 Corinthians 13:5]