Love With All Your Heart ....series chapter 7

Love With All Your Heart

by:

Linda Driver

 

 

7

Love is self-sacrificing:

Love is not self-seeking or selfish.

Alice was very much organized and meticulous. Everything had to be just so-so. She had a rigid schedule, and she made sure she stuck to it. The trouble is, Alice never seemed to have time in her life for anyone else. She had so many projects and interests to pursue that it took up all her time. If anyone asked a favor or had a real need, Alice declined saying that she was just too busy. She had her own family to tend to, her own house to clean, her own shopping, and so on. She dressed her daughters with exquisite care, and her hair and make-up was always freshly done. Her house, of course, was spotless. When calls were made in church to help a needy family, to provide transportation, or make a casserole, Alice felt full justified in declining. Why couldn't those needy people take care of themselves, anyway?  Why should she spend her time, energy, and money on unappreciative, ignorant people?

Then one day Alice came face to face with the claims of God's love as found in the Bible:

 

Love...does not seek its own. 1 Corinthians 13:5

 

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2:4

 

 

13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Romans 12:13

 

   Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

John 15:13

 

    By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.

 And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 

   1 John 3:16

 

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.   

 Romans 15:2

 

Love I always giving unreservedly and unconditionally to others.

Love does not seek for its own best interest but always the interest of others.

Love is willing to deny self to help others.

Love does not insist on its own way, but cheerfully defers to others.

Love is solicitous and caring towards others, always concerned about their welfare.

Love gives oneself up for all mankind in total self- resignation and self-abnegation. 

Love never manipulates or uses others for selfish purposes. 

Love never flatters or bribes others, or acts deceitfully in order to gain an advantage. 

Love pours  forth itself to others freely, even to the point of death.

Love seeks to meet others' needs, going out of its way to give of its time and means.

Love lives to bless others.