| The Every Day of Life |
Chapter 21 |
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But what is the love that is the whole of the will of God? Do we really understand it? Do not many of us think only of its earthly side? We like to be loved, that is, to have other people love us and live for us and do things for us. We like the gratifications of love. But that is only miserable selfishness, if it goes no further. It is a desecration of the sacred name to think that love, at its heart, means getting, receiving. Nay, love gives. Getting is earthly; “as it is in heaven,” is giving. That is what God’s love does – it finds its blessedness in giving. “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.” That is what Christ’s love did – it poured out its very life-blood to the last drop. The essential meaning of loving must always be giving, not receiving.
Perhaps our thought of the heavenly blessedness is often a selfish one, that it will be all enjoyment, all receiving. But even heaven will not be an eternity of self-gratification, of the bliss of receiving. Even there, especially there, where all imperfections will be left behind, love must find its supreme blessedness in giving, in serving others, in pouring out into other lives. It will forever there be more blessed to give than to receive, to minister rather than to be ministered unto.
“On earth as it is in heaven,” means therefore not merely the gratification of being loved, but the blessedness of loving others and giving out the richest and best of one’s life for others. Sometimes we hear people sighing to have friends, to be loved. This is natural. We all hunger for love. But this craving may become unwholesome, even miserably morbid. As one writes, “It may be only a covetous outreach after a blessing which belongs to another, and without which that other life must be left wholly un-sunned and un-refreshed.” A great deal more wholesome desire is the craving to give love, to be a blessing to others, to pour out the heart’s sweet life to refresh other weary hearts.
It is God’s will that we should love; it may not always be God’s will that we should be loved. It seems to be the mission of some in this world to give and not to receive. They are set to shine in the darkness, burning up their own life as the lamp’s oil burns, to be light to other souls, while no one gives light to them. They are called to serve, to minister, to wear out their life in giving sweetness, comfort, and help to others, while none come to minister to them, to pour loves sweetness into their hearts, and to give them daily bread of affection, cheer, and help.
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