“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…”
(rf. I Cor. 13:4-8a NASB)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”
(rf. Gal. 5:22-23 NASB)
February has arrived and with it the emphasis on love. The world takes this opportunity to overwhelm us with the need to spend inordinate amounts of money on those whom we love. Their view is that the dollars spent should be an equal reflection of the loved one’s value in your lives. If that were the case, truly we would be bankrupt and forever in debt, for no monetary attachment could ever come close to reflecting the blessing of those who have shown their unconditional love and dedication to us over the years. Money spent properly can indeed give someone we care for an indication that we do love them, but it is not necessary since we tend to communicate our love for others regularly through the things we do normally and by the encouragement we provide in both word and action. Material gifts are not the only way to express our love to others.
If love were only a feeling, then momentary reflections through gifts would be appropriate. But how would the person receiving the gift feel between gifts? Do we still love them in the intervening times? True love, however, is much more than a feeling; it is a commitment to be there through thick and thin, poverty and wealth, good times and bad, illness and well-being. To accurately reflect this love, gifts given out of appreciation for another’s love and devotion should be a year-round practice. Nor does our appreciation always have to shown in expensive gifts, but rather in the giving of a smile, a hug, a word of encouragement—each of these bestowed at the right time can be worth more than the most extravagant of presents.
Therefore, during this month in which “love” is the key theme, make the commitment to show those you love that you care for them daily, not just during holiday seasons. Remember that the essence of love is derived from the source of love itself—God. He gave and still gives His love freely, showing us in a myriad of ways that He cares for each us within the events of our everyday lives. His ultimate gift of His Son was granted to us with no price tag attached; His atonement for our sins was free, but its worth was priceless and most costly! Though we can never match such a gift in content, we can give to our loved ones acts of kindness, compassion, and encouragement in the spirit of Christ’s gift to us. I guarantee these things along with material gifts from time to time will bless the heart of the recipient more so as it shows them that our love for them is not seasonal, but continual, as is Christ’s love for us.
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