Love without Hypocrisy (Romans 12:9) is a trait of true love. If I am honest then I must confess that I have been the hypocrite. I have sinned and missed the mark when it comes to loving without hypocrisy.
Another way to say this is to be sincere in love. So often
we make expressions of affection, but if we are honest, we come up short in
actions of affection. We say that we care, we will help, we will pray, we will
do such and such. However, either though neglect, forgetfulness, or lack of
desire we are unable to complete the task. We see this warning in 2 Corinthians
8-9.
In 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 we see Paul praising the impoverished
churches in Macedonia for their generosity in giving to others needs. They “begged”
for the opportunity to participate in this gift. They did this by first giving
themselves to God and then to the ministry of gifts by God’s will.
Paul goes on to challenge the Corinthians in to fulfill the
pledge they made to give support to the needs of other Christians. He explains
that he is not wanting them to be compelled by his asking, but rather out of
love.
I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of
the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love.
So when we make a promise to support others then we show the
genuineness of love when we fulfill our vows. I think that none of us can make
the claim to perfectly fulfill love in our relationships. However, we cannot use
our imperfections to give up on loving well.
We also do well to recognize the law of sowing a reaping. In
2
Corinthians 9:6-9 we learn that the gifts that we give generously or sparingly
reap the same. We also learn that God grace overflows and provides for our
needs. So that out of our abundance we can “excel in every good work.” The
purpose of our abundance then is not to serve ourselves, but rather to give and
love well.
This brings me sorrow. I recognize that I can and must do
better. How often I have missed the opportunity to love others out of the
abundance of God’s graces. I am thankful for God’s “indescribable gift” (2
Corinthians 9:15). With God we have the forgiveness of sin. When we miss
the mark God’s grace restores us that we might press on in good works. I am
reminded:
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a
lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.
Let us press on, seek forgiveness, and fulfill the vows of
love and excel in good works of ministry.
May God Richly Bless You,
~BJ
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