Good news. We had a great discussion this week about Love. Students met in groups to answer the following questions.
In your group’s opinion, is love a…
Feeling or Emotion
An action word (verb)
SomeTHING that you give or receive (noun)
A describing word, an adjective
OTHER:
What is the OPPOSITE of Love?
Read 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
What does your group consider to be the greatest describing word or phrase of Love mentioned here in this passage?
What is the greatest story of LOVE that your group can come up with?
They had some good input… but I challenged students to think about love not as a feeling or something that we give away- but to think of Love as a choice I make to place someone’s or something’s needs above my own desires. This idea brings a lot of implication and is taken right out of the idea that Love is not self-seeking. John 3:16 describes God’s love as something that God has chosen and this choice led God to some awesome action. I shared about my love for my wife and kiddo. To be honest with them, I don’t always feel like loving. There are times when we just don’t feel like doing things- love is one of these things. Just because we don’t have a feeling doesn’t mean we aren’t called to love!
The other challenge presented was the understanding of the Opposite of love. All of our groups claimed ‘hate’ as the opposite of love. Good thoughts because hate is a strong action. We looked at the idea that maybe while hate is not loving, selfishness is the opposite of love. When I put my own desires at the center of my world, whom am I loving? With God, dating relationships, parents and friendships- selfishness tears down love. It is impossible to be selfish and really love someone.
I have visited with many teenagers and college students in the past 10 years. One story that I hear repeated is that of how sex outside of marriage has beaten up some of these young adults. Many times it is an idea of love that leads to this premature intimacy. “If you love me, then you will…” This phrase is a total perversion of what love is all about. Notice the focus of the phrase- YOU love ME. Love isn’t about ME. It’s about what is best for YOU. Guys need to wake up and look down the road when it comes to sex. If you really love this girl, what is it going to look like 5 or 10 years from now when you two have gone your separate ways? Love her? Put HER true needs above your desire for sex.
Good thoughts to think on. I challenged our students to read and think upon John 3:16. Some of our students had this verse memorized… it is a great one to remember! God’s love is a powerful example of what Love is all about. Think about it this week- talk about it. Love.
Next week we will look at real love that really does something.
Blessed to be able to share.
chris
