A Silly Measure of Love

For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
2nd Corinthians 2:4 NIV

There have been so many songs written about love that I think it would be nigh on impossible to count them all. And so many supposed definitions with feelings ranging from angst and anguish to zest and zeal, from selfish to self-less. If we haven't seen or done it all, we've at least heard about it all.  

When I was younger, we used to ask, "How much do you love me?" when we wanted something or wanted someone to do something for us.  Enough to bring me something from the other room? Or drive to the store for me? Or whatever the want was at that moment. A silly measure of love.

Paul's love was so deep that many people did not understand it.  He cared enough to confront sin in the lives of those he loved, risking their anger, the loss of their return love. Sometimes it is beyond difficult to offer a loving correction knowing that you may lose that person's affection, but Proverbs 27:6 reads, Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. It is a depth of love not easily measured. 

It was true then. It's true now. People do not like to be told what to do period, let alone what they are doing wrong. They definitely do not like to be confronted with their sin! But if you truly love someone would you tell them? How much do you love me? Maybe it's not so silly, after all...

Prayer:

Father,
          Help us to love beyond ourselves. Beyond our own selfishness. Help us to love others as You love us - to always, ALWAYS be motivated by love and not manipulation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.