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BY PASTOR BRANDON YOUNG
I can remember as a child eating at my grandmother’s house for Sunday lunch, and I am certain as she loaded my plate down with that great home cooked food, that she was not measuring out the portions. The food was barely contained on the plate, and she always asked if we wanted seconds. My grandmother loved all of us and she was determined that we would never leave her table hungry.
The Bible speaks endlessly about giving. Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
Love is all about sacrificial giving, and the more we give, the more we get in return. If love can be measured, it is not real love. Love keeps giving even when it is tired and frustrated. Francis de Sales said, “The measure of love is to love without measure.” We often put limits, boundaries, and limitations on our love.
We have love with fine print that tells all the terms and conditions that must be met for us to show love. God has no terms or conditions to love us. In fact, He sacrificed His only Son to die for us while we were a sinner.
God’s love conquered death itself. God’s love is so vast and immeasurable that it covers all the earth. God loves each and every one of us completely. There is room in the heart of God for the widow, the foreigner, the poor, the broken, the marginalized, and the hungry. His love never runs out. It is limitless! God’s love is taller than the highest mountain and deeper than the deepest ocean. The love of God cannot be measured in miles or even light years. Most importantly of all, there is room in God’s heart for you and for me. Love is the only substance that cannot ever fail! Love will always win!
Last Saturday, we had our 13th annual Back to School Bash at Hampton High School and our theme this year was “Love Never Fails.” We had a sign posted out in front of the football stadium with those words from the Bible, along with T-shirts. Those words are meaningless until they are lived. It was our intention that every person that entered those gates would feel nothing but love. The world does not need more hatred, judgment, or condemnation, and we need not keep pointing out more problems and issues. We need a real solution that works in all areas of our lives and that, my friends, is LOVE! I could use this column to tell you about all the supplies that were given out and about all we did to show love, but that is not my intention. The verse I quoted above said that as we give, it will be given back to us. I want you to know about the love we received from the students and their families. We left that evening physically exhausted, but we were completely filled with love. That love was pressed down, shaken, and over flowing. Love was shown to each of us throughout that day in the form of smiles, tears of joy, high fives, hugs, and many “thank yous.” Love overflowed. I have realized many times over that it is impossible to outgive God.
The Bible tells us in Romans 12:9, “Let love be without dissimulation.” The word dissimulation refers to hypocrisy or insincerity. When we measure out and give others a portion of our love, it is not sincere love. God’s love knows no boundaries. When we love others, it has to be pure and without motive, not based upon how good they are, but based upon how much they are worth to us. We valued those students and families, and they valued our effort and kindness.
We can do many things that are wonderful, but they can often be done out of obligation or duty. We can also do great things just to look good in front of others. Our only motive should be that our actions are pleasing to God. I challenge each of you to love without measure, and let that love be to everyone you know and meet, regardless of how they treat you. We heap love on those that love us, but the Bible is clear that those that are most difficult to love, need the most love. We are commanded to love our enemies, and that love has to be without measure. It is time to remove the fine print and restrictions placed on our love. Love should be every day, all day, to everyone, and without limits. Please revisit 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, and look at the “why” of what you do. Our motives often come with measures, but when our only motive is to love like God, our love is without measure.
(The Solution Column is provided by Pastor Brandon Young of Harmony Free Will Baptist Church, Hampton)