Costly part 3
I think there are two main reasons why we are afraid to love. Number one: I think we're afraid to lose what we've got. If we were to give everything we are and everything we have, and not get something in return... we'd be empty, right? It's that idea of opportunity cost. If I don't take care of myself, who will? And if I'm taking care of you I'm not taking care of myself. Scary. And the second reason why I think we're afraid to love is because giving ourselves--putting ourselves out there--makes us vulnerable. And sometimes just the thought of being ACCEPTED is almost as scary as the thought of being rejected. Because either way someone will get past those walls we've built. Past our defenses. Past what we choose to show most of the world most of the time. And, again, that's when you're vulnerable. Exposed. Real. When someone sees the REAL you that almost gives them a lot of power. Because you're basically giving them ammunition to use against you. The other day someone said, "Did you hear what they said about you?" And I said, "I didn't hear. But even if I had, I don't care what they say." Because they don't know me very well. So anything they DID say would probably be completely innaccurate. Or at the very least only skimming the surface. It's only the people that REALLY know you that can cut you deep. And we'd like to think that if we put ourselves out there like that, the person would be worthy of our love. But what I'm trying is say is EVERYONE is worthy. But loving indiscriminately like that is terrifying. And it's costly. Because some people WILL take advantage of you. Remember our key verse, 2 Corinthians 12:15 in the NLT, "I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me." Even though. That's the key. Love doesn't judge by appearance. We don't only love the "safe" people. PERFECT love casts out fear. God is no respecter of persons. Which means LOVE is no respecter of persons. It rains on the just and the unjust alike, right? No matter what someone looks like... they need love just as much as the next person. We all do. It's THE basic human need. Rich people kill themselves too, right? Because sometimes you're so poor that you only have money. And money can't buy happiness. Or love. Only by knowing the God who IS love can we experience that love. Can we receive it and release it. Can we give it away without a thought. Without a care. Not worrying about the cost, or the result. Not worrying about what we "get" from loving someone. If you're trying to get something, it's not love. Love IS giving. Paul wrote that he would GLADLY give everything he is and everything he has. That's perfect love. Mature love. That's the love that never fails, because that's the love that endures. The love that the Spirit and the bride speak of when they say, "Come." Guys. They don't say, "Come, or else." They say, "Come and get it." Jesus prepared the table for us. HE paid the bill. He did it all so we could get it all. And now we have it all. But it's too good to keep to ourselves. So we ought to share it. We ought to let what's inside come out by filling ourselves to overflowing with what we've been filled with!