PRAYER MINISTRY | ACTIVATE SIGN UP

True Love

“Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam… And wuv, TRU WUV, will fowow you foweva… So tweasure your wuv.”

It is totally inconceivable to think that the greatest movie on the planet came to theatres almost thirty years ago. Princess Bride taught us many things. It taught us to never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line. It taught us to be careful in the fire swamp. It taught us to look out for R.O.U.S’s (rodents of unusual size). Lastly and most importantly, it taught us about “TRU WUV”.

True Biblical love signifies an undefeatable benevolence and unconquerable goodwill that always seeks the highest good of the other person, no matter what he does. It is the self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return. True Biblical love is a love by choice and not by chance. It refers to the will rather than the emotions. I believe true love can be summarized with the following seven thoughts:

1. TRUE LOVE IS SELFLESS.

True love lays down its life for others (John 15:13). True love will always do what blesses the other person and not themselves. True love will put the other person’s spiritual walk with God first. True love will protect the other person’s purity. That is a selfless life.

Philippians 2:4 – “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

2. TRUE LOVE IS ABOUT GIVING NOT GETTING.

John 3:16 captures the very heart of God. He loves the world so much that He gave. A marriage between two givers is a beautiful thing.

3. TRUE LOVE IS SINCERE.

Romans 12:9 in the Message Bible says, “love from the centre of who you are; don’t fake it!” Manipulation is the opposite of sincerity. How can I manipulate you to get what I want? Flirting is the opposite of sincerity. What can I do to get your attention? True love doesn’t play mind games. If you have to flirt to get someone than your entire relationship will have to be maintained by that. True love is sincere. It’s genuine. It’s authentic. If someone doesn’t value you and what you value than they are saying that you are not valuable.

4. TRUE LOVE DOES NOT OPERATE OUT OF FEAR AND INSECURITY.

Fear and insecurity come when you feel like you have to measure up. How many of us spend our entire lives trying to become something to earn other people’s love. True love is contrary to this thinking. True love is rooted in your identity in Christ which leaves the match making in His perfect care.

1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

5. TRUE LOVE SHINES THROUGH PEOPLE WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY WHOLE.

True love will not be a distraction to those who are young in their faith. If someone is a new or young believer than please give the time necessary for them to grow in their faith and become spiritually whole. Then that person will be able to give back to you from a place of emotional and spiritual maturity. Two halves don’t make a whole in marriage. Two whole people coming together will experience the blessing and fruitfulness of a godly marriage.

1 Corinthians 13:5b – “…it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].”

6. TRUE LOVE IS PATIENT AND TRUSTS GOD DURING THE WAITING TIME.

True love rests in the plan and purposes of God. A believer who is trusting God with this area of life will always make the most of their time by serving Him.

Psalm 37:5 – “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”

7. TRUE LOVE IS REVEALED IN JESUS’ LOVE FOR US.

True love understands that every relationship we are presently in is an opportunity to model Christ’s love. True love cannot be met by a husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend. It is only found in Jesus! Until we understand that we will always be searching, always be dissatisfied and always feel like something is missing. Jesus is your missing piece!

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (AMP) – “4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. 5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. 7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. 8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].”