As Christians, we often talk of our love for God, but what does it really mean to love Him? Is your love just a feeling or an emotion? Is love a circumstance in and out of which we fall? Or, does true love for God involve action? Jesus made a statement in John 14:15 that tells how our love for God must be demonstrated. “If you love me, keep my commandments.” We can deduce from this statement that love is not just some feeling or emotion, but rather a true love requires obedience to the will of Jesus Christ. The following questions, which when answered, will test if we really love God as we say that we do.
Do we put God first in our lives? If we truly love God, then we will do much more than just say it. We will seek to put Him first in our lives. Matthew 6:33 records Jesus saying, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” This means we are to place God in the #1 position in our lives. He comes before our families, our jobs, our hobbies and everything else that we do. He is the center of our consideration. He is at the center of all that we do.
Do we enjoy giving gifts to God? This deals with our giving. We are afforded an opportunity to give a portion of our blessings to God as a sacrifice every first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). People will sacrifice everything they own for the well-being of their children, but why? The answer is because they love them. However, when it comes to sacrificial giving to God, folks have a tougher time doing that. Why? Perhaps it is because they do not love God as they should.
Do we enjoy talking to God? Most people enjoy communicating with those they love, and thus they communicate with their loved ones often. They email them; they call them; and they go to see them so they can talk with them in person. Yet, many find it a struggle to pray to God each day, and when they do pray, they struggle for words to say to Him. Perhaps this is because some people do not have a relationship with God. Building a relationship with God requires communication on our part to Him. If we do not communicate with Him on a regular basis, then do we really love God? I believe we know the answer.
Do we desire to listen to God? Many will declare how much they love God, and yet, they don’t listen when He speaks. God speaks to us today through His Word. If I want God to communicate with me, I must read and study His Word (2 Timothy 2:15). When I read God’s Word, I understand Him better and also grow closer to Him. Thus, my love for God grows stronger.
So, the next time you tell someone how much you love God, remember that loving God involves much more than just saying it! “Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’ Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment” (Mark 12:28-30).
