Love Makes the World Go ‘Round
Bible Reading: Philippians 2:1-4
Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. Philippians 2:4
Love. The word slides into conversations almost unnoticed. Talk about it: How many ways can you think of to use the word love? Here are a few that come to mind:
• “I just rented a great movie. You’ll love it.”
• “Yeah, I’d love a burger slathered with onions, dill pickles, and guacamole.”
• “My mom and dad really love each other.”
• “You gotta love those basketball players!”
The word love can mean a lot of different things. So when you think about love, it’s important to know the difference. For example, if a boy can’t spot the difference between loving his dog, loving his favorite baseball glove, and loving his mom, he’s in deep trouble—with his mom, not the dog.
From everything the Bible says about love—and it says a lot—we can come up with a definition of true love: Love is wanting and working for the good of the one you love.
Listen to that said in a couple of different ways: Love is making the well-being of another person as important to you as your own. Or Love is looking out for the health, happiness, and growth of others the same way you look out for your own.
Do you like to be healthy? Of course!
Do you like to be happy? Duh!
Do you like to grow? Naturally!
We all work hard at staying happy . . . safe . . . secure . . . and comfortable. We like to grow as Christians, do well in school, have fun with friends, and do whatever we can to improve our life. It’s how we’re wired as human beings. We not only want to survive but to flourish in every way possible.
But true love demands something more—that you want others to succeed as much as you do. That’s what Paul meant in Philippians 2:4 when he said, “Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.”
That isn’t the kind of love you usually hear about in the halls at school. But it’s the true love that will fulfill both you and everyone you love.
TALK: God is always thinking of what’s best for you. How can you think about what’s best for others?
PRAY: Father, flood us with your kind of unselfish love—the love that thinks of others.
ACT: Make a sign that reminds you to think of others this week—and hang it where you’ll see it!