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I Timothy 1.5 (NIV)
The goal of this command is
love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
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| Impressive gifts, extensive knowledge, and great faith mean nothing without love.* |
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Paul
was very astute when it comes to human nature. He knew that we can get caught
up in doing the right thing and forget why we are doing it, so he reminds us
that we are to go further than just correcting the false teachers he refers to in verses 3 and
4. Knowledge and obedience are critical but they are not enough. You can “deprogram” someone who has been fed a diet of bad information; you can replace the false doctrine with the truth – but Paul says that God wants more. Our ultimate goal is not to generate debate and controversy; our purpose
is to produce an environment where love is exhibited in daily living.*
The
English language is inadequate when it comes to love. We have abused this poor weary
word until it is almost meaningless. “I love your new dress!” “For God so loved
the world . . .” We fall in and out of love. We love as long as it feels good,
remains convenient, and meets our expectations. We love things that can’t love
us back. Can all of these uses of the word really mean the same thing?
But
sometimes we get it right: Spouses who remain true to each other long after the
romance has faded. Parents who love
children who have rejected everything they believe in. Children who love
parents who no longer recognize them. . . When we do love even when we don’t feel
love. And especially when we are teaching others from a pure heart, a good
conscience, and a sincere faith.
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| One cannot command the emotional type of love, but the kind of love that represents God can be commanded.* |
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