God’s Love For Us, Part 4: Undemanding
David W Palmer
“God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). The apostle Paul describes love; this is the same love with which God loves us. It is the same love that God pours into our hearts; and he wants it to overflow from us onto others the way he loves:
(1 Corinthians 13:4–7 TLB) “Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, {5} never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. …”
“Love Does Not Demand Its Own Way” (verse 5).
This is an amazing characteristic of love, and this is the way God loves us. James applies it to the “wisdom that is from above.” So it is the wisdom of God—who is love; and it yields peace and good fruits:
(James 3:17 NKJV) “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
James writes as the Holy Spirit directs when he says that God’s wisdom (Love’s wisdom) is gentle and “willing to yield.” This means that at times, we can negotiate with God—as we see with Moses and Abraham:
(Genesis 18:23, 32 NKJV) And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? ... {32} Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He (the Lord) said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.”
(Exodus 33:3, 15, 17 NKJV) “Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” ... {15} Then he (Moses) said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” ... {17} So the LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”
In these examples, we see that God adjusted his original plan when his beloved, righteous worshippers interceded; but this does not mean that God will go against his written word, his gifts and callings, or violate his character:
(Psalm 119:89 ISV) “Your word is forever, LORD; it is firmly established in heaven.”
Sometimes God’s mind is made up, and his love, justice, wisdom, and perfect knowledge have decreed something. After that, no amount of intercession, pleading, or negotiating will change his mind about it. For example, the exile of Judah: no one could pray or intercede to change God’s mind in this.(See: Ezekiel 14).
However, within the confines of God’s written will, and his personal will for you, there is some “wiggle room.” For example:
(Romans 1:9–12 NKJV) “… I make mention of you always in my prayers, {10} making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. {11} For I long to see you …”
The apostle Paul wasn’t demanding his own way—far from it—but he was asking God if his will could flex enough to include a trip to Rome. We note that he said, “I long to see you.” Paul was asking God to allow him—by God’s will—to fulfill something he longed for. He certainly wasn’t insisting on his own way in his request, but he knew that God’s love, will, and wisdom are willing to yield.
Today, I leave you first with some encouragement: as long as it doesn’t violate God’s written word, or is inconsistent with a godly life, God’s will for you will yield and flex to accommodate your [noble] requests; this is love. Secondly, I leave you with the challenge to imitate God in this. Be willing to flex with those you lead—those over whom you have Godly authority to exercise your will: children, employees, team-members, students, congregants, etc. If, when they ask for you to flex, the outcome still achieves the goal; and if it doesn’t violate God’s word or values consistent with a godly lifestyle; be accommodating. It’s what love does:
(James 3:17 Berean Study Bible) But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
P.S. Here is a motto I have found helpful in dealing with other people: “If it’s important to you, it’s important to me.” Have an awesome day.
