What God wants of us is for us to reflect his love. What do we need to do this all encompassing thing?
Well, one thing we need to show love is God himself:
1 John 4:7
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
What else do we need to love?
Time.
Without time we cannot love, as love is something that we do, something that takes time. All that we do needs to be out of love – we even look after ourselves and provide for our own needs out of love, enabling us to look outward and love others. However, sometimes we spend our time outside of love, we sometimes busy ourselves providing for our selfish desires.
Sometimes I think that perhaps we spend too much time making money, and sometimes we justify that by pointing to the good we can do with the money. However, I don’t think that God is short of a bob or two, but I do think that God would like more people to do His works of love. The one thing that we have that God doesn’t, unless we give it to Him, is our time.
Acts 3:6
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
The love that God gives us is much more precious than silver and gold. I’m trying to focus more on giving my time. To do that I’m trying to reduce my requirement for money and therefore reduce my need to work for money. I’m trying to live more economically and not be so caught up in our materialist culture, but I’m not forgetting that we do need material provision – as with most things it is a balance.
There’s a good section in John Ortberg’s book ‘The Life you’ve always wanted’ (ignore the title which sounds like some crass self-help nonsense and focus on the subtitle ‘spiritual disciplines for today’ or something like that) which concentrates on the ancient discipline of ‘slowing’ – within which we take time to do the ordinary things of life carefully and prayerfully. It reminds me of St Paul talking of ‘redeeming the time as the days are evil’ in Eph 5.16 (king james version) – there is something about opting out of the busy-ness of life which is distinctly counter cultural and distinctly faithful…
Also have a look a Waterbuffalo Theology.
Slowing is something I find difficult I came across the phrase years ago “be Still and still moving” which I try to live in busyness of my life but time to love is huge issue.
Good one Mark. In a 24/7 culture the sabbath rest is a counter culture principle. The Church could learn something about this with there busy programmes and all consuming culture. Stop, I want to get off !! Henri Nouwen says, ‘being is better then doing – a quote that is constantly challenging me personaly ,relationally, emotionally and spiritually.
take time to repent, receive forgiveness and “freely give” as you have received.