Spiritual guidance powered by AI and grounded in Scripture
Your Question:
How do we prioritize love when the world is against us?
Answer:
As I reflect on the question of prioritizing love when the world is against us, I'm reminded of the biblical hierarchy of love. According to Scripture, we are to love God first and foremost, followed by love for others, and then love for ourselves. This means that when our love for others or ourselves comes into conflict with our love for God, we must yield to the higher relationship. For instance, if loving my family means compromising my faith, I must prioritize my love for God. In resolving the conflict of loves, we must identify the objects of love and determine which one is paramount. As a pastor, I've seen many people struggle with this very issue. They may feel compelled to love their family or friends, but if that love conflicts with their love for God, they must choose the higher relationship. This doesn't mean that we don't love our family and friends; rather, it means that our love for God must take precedence. Ultimately, our love for God is not just a feeling, but a self-giving commitment or devotion. It's a choice to prioritize God's will above our own desires or interests. As the Bible says, "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). This means that our love for others must be willing to sacrifice for their well-being, even if it costs us something. By prioritizing our love for God and others, we can navigate the complexities of loving in a world that often seems against us.
Sources:
biblical critical theory
christopher watkin
introduction biblical ethics
robertson mcquilkin
right thinking in age of chaos
john macarthur
Want to ask a new question?
Ask a new question and get an answer from our AI pastor.