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Love, The Morality Motivator
Bible study on love.

In the three previous articles concerning morality, we examined the fact that God exists, has established a godly ethic in His word, and that we must appeal to the Bible to establish godly morality (right and wrong). In this article, I would like to suggest that "love" is the thing that motivates us to deny the world and live by God's standard of right and wrong.

One of the Greek words translated love in the New Testament is agape. Agape is used to describe the attitude one has toward God and other individuals that is outwardly manifested in the doing of good. Agapao within God or an individual is to seek the best for all others apart from any feelings one may have toward the one that good is being extended. Vine's Expository Dictionary says of agapao:

"In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant love and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential love in them towards the Giver, and a practical love towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver."

"Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments, John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10; I John 2:5; 5:3; 2 John 6. Self-will, that is, self-pleasing, is the negation of love to God."

"Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom. 15:2, and works no ill to any 13:8-10; love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,' Gal. 6:10."

First God loved us; therefore, He provided a means of salvation by sending His Son to die for our sins (John 3:16). So, we in turn love God "because He first loved us" (I John 4:19). Now, if we love God, we keep His commands - without exception. John says in I John 5:3: "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." So, if we love God, we keep His commandments. And, if we do not love God, we do not keep His commandments. Likewise, since God has commanded us to love our neighbor, we do good to our neighbor apart from personal feelings and desires.

Also notice the attitude we have toward keeping the commands of God because of love - they are not burdensome. For one who does not love God, it will be burdensome to think of obeying God's commands because he lacks a driving force to positively motivate himself to obey the Lord. But, for one who loves the Lord, nothing, not even death, may prevent them from obeying the Lord. So it was in the first century, which many people were persecuted even to die painfully slow by fire, crucifixion, and torment of beasts while looking to the rest that awaited in heaven. Jesus, assured them by saying through the Apostle John: "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev. 2:10)

So it is for us also, if we love the Lord and stand the tests of this life. We will receive a crown of life. But, do we love the Lord to do whatever He says even at the cost of our life? Would we forsake all of this world, including family and friend, to obey the Lord - to stand for what is right in the sight of the Lord? Could we stand strong in the Lord while watching parents and children burned at the stake or thrown to beasts? Surely, only love could move us to the strongest convictions to never deny our Lord and live morally in this life.

Of love and its relationship to doing the Lord's work Paul says: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. If your love for the Lord is inadequate to make you stand in the face of adversity or to obey Him in times of calm, now is the acceptable season to grow closer to Him through love. When a lawyer asked Jesus about which of the commandments is greatest in the law He responded: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all of the Law and the Prophets." (Matt. 22:37-28) Ask yourself: Do I posses the fervent (fiery) love of God which moves me to obedience in all things? Or, is my love just lukewarm?