Today is my friend, Brent's birthday. He's Jack Benny's age (for those of you who don't know what that means ask someone older than you). The reason I mention him is because today I've decided write a post about something he told me last week that has been running through my thoughts ever since.
In the course of one of our usual weekly conversations he said to me "Love is almost never convenient". As he went on to explain what he meant I soon realized that it was a perspective that could be very useful in my life.
I don't know about you but I am naturally very selfish. There are a lot of people in my life that I love but sometimes but I don't always show it. As stated in the book of James the evidence of that love requires action. If you love someone you will do things for them that you really don't want to do. That's the essence of the personal inconvenience.
Think about it. This applies to all the relationships based on love. A husband would much rather watch the game on TV then go into the bedroom and massage his pregnant wife's feet. It's inconvenient but because he loves her he does it.
Getting up in the middle of the night and going to help a son or daughter because their car broke down and they need help. That's not convenient. That's Love.
Taking the time away from making dinner to discipline a young child because they're misbehaving and needs to be put "back on course". That's Love.
Going to help a relative move on your first Saturday off in over 2 months. That's Love.
Perhaps another way of saying that acts of Love are never convenient is to say that they are always acts of "selflessness."
Everything we do for the people we love pales in comparison to the act of Love demonstrated by The Gospel message. Jesus Christ committed himself to and accomplished the most inconvenient and selfless act of Love the world will EVER know. He gave his life to reconcile us to Himself through the shedding of his blood for the forgiveness of our sins.
Romans 5:8 says that God showed his Love toward us in that while we were yet sinners (aka enemies of God) Christ died for us.
As a popular gospel song from the 70's put it: "He left his mighty home in glory. To bring us redemption's story".
This is where the practical application of the Gospel message fits into our daily lives. Compared to the story of the Gospel, any act of Love we show or do for anyone in life (spouse, family, friend, enemies?) pales in comparison. By Loving others selflessly we follow and honor Christ's sacrifice for us.
Everyday we should follow Christ's example of selflessness and sacrifice to show Love to those who need it. Even though it may be "inconvenient".
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