"That's Love?"

  I was watching a program on television about the declining family values in America. When I listen to people and their views placing them up beside what God speaks, it is rather alarming how distorted the thinking has become.

  In one segment they were interviewing a man on death row for murdering his wife. The man spoke of their lives together, their children and then his wife began running around on him. He confronted her but to no avail according to his account. Then he spoke the following words: "I loved her so much that if I couldn't have her, no one could!" What a distorted view of love! That's not love. It's called jealousy, a fit of rage and ungodliness but it's certainly not love!

  The next segment focused on a young mother who was trying to turn her son against his father. Their marriage had failed and she called her ex-husband useless and couldn't stand the sight of even seeing him. Then she spoke the following words: "I love my son so much that I don't want any harm to come to him, especially from his father!" Afterward they spoke with the boy (about 10 years old) and asked him how he felt and he said he was mixed up because his parents seem to hate one another and he couldn't understand why. The mother calls this love. That's not love. It's called hate, anger, bitterness and ungodliness but it's certainly not love!

  I've heard parents say they love their children to much to discipline them whether it's from spanking or some other form. That's not love. "He who withholds his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently." (Prov. 13:24) It's called laziness, uncaring to be bothered but it's certainly not love!

  Have you heard people in the Lord's body tell you they love you or someone else only to speak evil of them behind their back? That's not love. It's called gossip, slander and ungodliness but it's certainly not love!

  Have we lost the meaning of true love? Have our lives become so distorted that we cannot recognize what God's love pursues and looks like? "We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."  (I John 3:16) That's love! Harming others or speaking against others or not bringing up your children in the discipline of the Lord is not love. "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen."  (I John 4:20)

  God is love. Read I Cor. 13 and see love responding. God gave, endured and committed Himself to our well being at all cost to Him. That certainly IS love!