Love is....

A few years ago, one of the first sermons of our new pastor delivered had to do with his definition of love. To be honest, I don't remember much of the sermon. Unfortunately that is pretty typical. I scant remember even the best of sermons. Sometimes, I'm lucky to remember more than, "gee, that was a good sermon".

Back to the pastor's definition of love: "Love is the relentless pursuit of another person's well-being." In my opinion it is not a complete definition but it is pretty good for LOVE as a verb. (for the definition of Love as a noun - see 1 Corinthians 13 starting in verse 4. - I like to insert God each time it says love. Because I think God is Love, both a noun and a verb.)

Anyway, Love is the relentless pursuit of another person's well-being according to this pastor's definition. As I analyze this statement, I have to wonder if this definition can get a person into trouble. Just because I THINK something is for a person's well-being, who am I to decide that? So my actions could be overbearing, or butt-inski (butting in where I don't belong). It is rather arrogant of me to decide what is good for another person, except for the exception of my children when they were still children of course. I certainly think the definition has the right heart, meaning that we are to look outside ourselves rather than inside our own selfish intents (usually without knowing it.)

I think this definition combines well with the Golden Rule - Do Unto Others as You Would Have Others do Unto You. If you pursue another's well-being AND do unto others as you'd have them treat you, you might very well have the perfect verb description of Love. Doing to others as we want done to us would temper our zeal toward being overbearing.

Ok, so how do I implement this definition? In what ways can I pursue another's well-being? Well, when it snows, I can shovel another person's sidewalk or driveway. I can deliver a meal to someone just home from the hospital. I can insist that they see the doctor when that cold seems to last forever, then go with them. I can get their mail when they are on vacation. I can offer to walk their dog when I'm taking mine for a walk. I can say HELLO when I see them out somewhere outside our usual meeting place. Seems pretty simple, huh?

My Dear Jesus, Help me to love as you love, with full-out pursuit of another person's happiness and well-being wrapped into one thoughtful action. Open my eyes to ways that I am not being self-less but rather being selfish. In Your name and with Your help. AMEN.

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