Biblical Answer

The Objects and Conflicts of Love

In resolving the conflict between love and sacrifice, we must first identify the objects of love. The supreme objective is to love God, as Christ tells us. However, this love is not limited to actions alone but also involves motives and intentions. When we choose to sacrifice our own interests for the welfare of another, we have loved as God loved. Sacrifice is God's way of loving, though the world finds it beyond comprehension.

When confronted with a choice, we must consider the best interest of God, others, and ourselves. Love must make a choice when the interests of these three come into conflict. The controlling love becomes evident when a confrontation comes. If the response of love would be unloving to the higher relationship, the lower must yield to the higher. This means that when our desire to be served and coddled can be replaced with a nobler desire to serve others, we should choose the latter.

In the context of marriage, for instance, our desire to be served and coddled can be replaced with a nobler desire to serve others. The very definition of sacrifice means that sacrifice isn't sacrifice unless it costs us something. When we choose to serve others, we demonstrate our love for them, and our love for God is made complete in us. This is in line with the biblical teaching that "we do not hate, but love" (John 15:18). By choosing to serve others, we show that our love for God is paramount, and we demonstrate our willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of others.