Don’t Depend On Reciprocated Love From Men
David W Palmer
(2 Corinthians 12:15 NKJV) “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.”
This is indeed a timely warning. Paul said that the more abundantly he loved the Corinthian believers, the less they loved him in return. We must understand, as we begin to practice the love of God towards others, that love is a selfless giving of one’s self. Love serves others, hoping for a positive response, but not depending on receiving anything in return.
God’s love for the world—in sending his son to die for reconciliation—was reciprocated by murder. He was, and still is, hoping for his love to be rewarded with a multitudinous harvest of new children. Yet even though this has been the outcome through the response of the minority, the initial response from the majority was rejection and assassination. Sadly, this is the pattern; and it’s the way flesh always reacts to God’s love. In response, God didn’t plummet into a spiral of despair and depressed regret; he used the very act of murder perpetrated against his most loving gesture, to be the very means of rescuing those who had committed it.
Jesus expects us to love like he does; he wants us to be a living billboard of his character and intent. Yet, he warns us that this love may not be returned or appreciated by those for whom we lay down our lives. Of course this is hurtful; God knows this first hand, so has again used that act of murder (Jesus’s crucifixion) to be the means of our healing from the pain of rejection and abuse.
Even so, how do we keep exuding this unconditional love amidst the angst of painful rejection and hurtful threats? When we love others, we should only expect to receive love from God in return—not them.
The key is to continue “abiding in the vine”—staying in close surrendered fellowship with Jesus (John 15:4). We must “keep ourselves in the love of God” (Jude 1:21). Both of these are our responsibility. In other words, we should first receive abundant love from God. Then we should reach out and love others with the overflow—loving them as a response to God’s love for us, but not to win love either from him or them. This way, we will have plenty to give, and we will not be disillusioned when our love is not reciprocated. If other people do love us in return, we should see this as a bonus, not as a necessity.
(1 John 4:19 NKJV) “We love Him because He first loved us.”
Today, Jesus invites us to come through him—in the light of his murderous death, agonizing suffering, and victorious resurrection—to his never-ending fountain of love. Drink of his living water, bathe in his presence, and allow his precious life-blood to wash away all the stains of guilt, sin, scars, and pain. Once filled—again and again—allow his love to shine from your eyes, his life to overflow from your lips, and his intentions to be clearly seen in your actions. Then, when your overflow runs low at the end of your day, return to him; draw near to him, and he will draw near to you. Drink again from his fountain, bathe in his goodness and enjoy showers of blessing.
(Isaiah 55:1-3 NLT) “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—It’s all free! {2} Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. {3} “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.”
(James 4:8 NKJV) “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you …”
(Revelation 21:6 NKJV) And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.”
