"Unconditional Love"

Many times we have heard people say that God's love is "unconditional." There is some truth to that but it can also be destructive if we don't grasp what that means. To say we are loved no matter what kind of person we are has a downside and can be misleading.

To love someone in a true godly and healthy sense means that you want the better for that individual. That's what the love of God shows us. His love was demonstrated, calling us upward to Himself and out of our state of sin. A love that doesn't draw us upward is not really love. Too many are living in the "unconditional" love stage and never move toward what is good, holy and righteous. Take your child for instance. To say you love them "unconditionally" when they are rebellious, living like a bum, have no care for themselves or others is very harmful to them. To not correct them, to not draw them to a better way of living and the outreach to their soul is not love! To love "unconditionally" with all this in mind is lacking understanding and character.

In our relationships to one another, if it is based on God's love, we must be concerned about the character of the others. Not only the others character but ours as well. If someone says they love me I would want them to help me grow toward the Lord in things that are worthwhile, into the image of Christ. That would mean they have my best interest at heart. I am not talking about those who sit around and just look for things to pick on in another. That's loveless! I am talking about those who really care for my eternal well being and Christ is the center of their heart. Our "unconditional" love is sometimes nothing more than our 'goo' sugar coated statements and has nothing to do with growing toward the Lord. To love with the love of God is to enrich one another in the glorious things of God. I've watched over the years too many parents, their children are walking in ways contrary to the Lord, and those parents protect their godless ways by making excuses for them. That is harmful to their child and themselves! Love wants and will correct those to the truth (I Cor. 13).

Love also tells those who move toward a godly character they have done well. It encourages them to continue. Love speaks both to building when on the wrong path and encouraging as strides are made.

As with everything, we as humans seem to go to the extremes in both cases. Too many note every little mistake and every little bit of success is praised too lavishly. Love has a balance to it. Learning from God what He expects will help us help one another in our walk. Love expects proper responses both in praise and correction!