Perfected Love

In some sense the most benevolent, generous person in the world seeks his own happiness in doing good to others, because he places his happiness in their good. His mind is so enlarged as to take them, as it were, into himself. Thus when they are happy, he feels it; he partakes with them, and is happy in their happiness. This is so far from being inconsistent with the freeness of beneficence, that, on the contrary, free benevolence and kindness consists in it. (Jonathan Edwards)

What does it truly mean to be loving in the way that God is loving? Is it not as Edwards says? That I would ever find myself so pulled apart from my own pride and self as to attain my happiness in the good of others seems to me an impossible task. Not impossible because the task is too hard but instead because I am too weak and proud. Not to negate the joy and happiness found in my own good. Happiness found in the blessings of God, in the growth of him and in the growing understanding of his grace in my life. But instead to add on to that the joy found in seeing others happy in God, joyful in his blessings and growing in understanding of his grace in their lives.

What would this kind of love do to my character? I would no longer feel the pangs of envy as my friends laugh and smile in the joys of their lives as mine seems dreadully dull. I would no longer seek to further myself at the destruction of others. I would instead seek my happiness in the joy and satisfaction of those around me which is completed in God!

What would this love do to my outlook? First, it would take my focus off of myself and place it firmly in the hearts of people around me, seeking always their happiness and joy in God. Would it not drive me to give my time and energy and creativity (what little I have) and passions and resources to see others glad in the Lord? And it would be joy to me! Would it not become to me a joy to give my things to those in need?

What would this love do to my evangelism? It would take my stubborn, selfish heart and turn my thoughts to those who have never heard of the glories and riches of my Savior. It would take my mind off of my pain and “trials” in this life and put it firmly on the eternity of those around me. I have no pain comparable to an eternity in hell! It would place me on my knees crying out to the Sovereign Lord of salvation asking that he would extend his Spirit to the hearts of the lost, through the delivery of his message through my lips. It would drive me to open my mouth and proclaim truth and the gospel in every opportunity presented and find my happiness in that!

His glory is what satisfies him, and the moment which glorified him most was in the cross! Where his Son hung dying! But it was only through the cross that he might satisfy his wrath and save some for himself. Jesus was glorified in the selflessness and humility of the cross. This is in such opposition to how our world views glory.

I believe this is what John was talking about in his first epistle, this is the response to the gospel transforming our lives. This is perfect love. And this is love without fear. Why? Because he first loved us, and gave his Son to be our Savior, thereby finding satisfaction in our joy through his pain.

We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:14-19 ESV)

By the strength that God supplies,
Sean