Spiritual Wellness - How Well Do You Love?

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                          "SPIRITUAL WELLNESS"

                         How Well Do You Love?

INTRODUCTION

1. We have been examining our spiritual wellness in regards to serving
   God....
   b. Our checkup has included hearing, reading, praying, singing,
      talking, and giving
   c. Now we shall examine the matter of loving

2. Jesus spoke of love in mentioning the two greatest commandments of
   the Law...
   a. The love of God - Mt 22:34-38
   b. The love of neighbor - Mt 22:39-40

[He taught many other things related to love.  So let us ask, "How Well
Do You Love?"  There are certainly...]

I. DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOVERS

   A. THOSE WHO ARE LOVED FIRST...
      1. People who love, but only in response to love shown toward them
      2. They are willing to love, but others must take the initiative
      -- Many base their relationships on this kind of love

   B. THOSE WHO ARE LOVED IN RETURN...
      1. Some may take the initiative, but continue their love only when
         reciprocated
      2. Jesus observed this kind of love among sinners - Lk 6:32
      -- Many only show love if it is a two-way street

   C. THOSE WHO LOVE REGARDLESS...
      1. Who take the initiative, and persist even when not reciprocated
      2. Jesus commanded this kind of love - Lk 6:35
      -- Rare among men, but required of Jesus' disciples!

[Why would Jesus demand that we love others regardless, even those who
are our enemies...?]

II. IMPORTANCE OF PROPER LOVING

   A. THE GREATEST OF COMMANDMENTS...
      1. As we saw earlier, the two greatest commands of the Law - Mt
         22:34-40
      2. As Paul wrote often, loving your neighbor fulfills the Law - Ro
         13:8-10; Ga 5:14
      3. As James described it, it is the "royal law" - Jm 2:8
      -- Nothing surpasses love when it comes to obeying God!

   B. THE MARK OF TRUE SPIRITUALITY...
      1. That we have passed from death to life - 1Jn 3:14
      2. That we are born of God - 1Jn 4:7-8
      3. That we are the disciples of Christ - Jn 13:34-35
      -- Nothing surpasses love when it comes to true spirituality!

   C. THE GLUE OF RELATIONSHIPS...
      1. Friendships depend on love - 1Sa 18:1
      2. Families depend on love - Ep 5:25,28; Tit 2:4
      3. Churches depend on love - Php 2:1-2; Col 3:14
      -- Nothing surpasses love when it comes to binding people together!

[Since the right kind of love is so important in our relationship with
God and others, how can we excel in this virtue...?]

III. BECOMING BETTER LOVERS

   A. LET GOD TEACH YOU...
      1. Just as the Thessalonians were taught of God - 1Th 4:9-10
      2. God loves by giving that which is most precious to Him - Jn
         3:16
      3. God loves before He is loved - 1Jn 4:9-10; Ro 5:8,10
      -- Let the Father be our role model when it comes to love

   B. LET JESUS TEACH YOU...
      1. Jesus would have us love one another as He loved us - Jn 13:34
      2. He certainly demonstrated the full measure of love - Jn 15:13;
         1Jn 3:16
      3. Paul encourages us to emulate Christ's love - Ep 5:1-2,25
      -- Let the Son be our mentor when it comes to love

   C. LET THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACH YOU...
      1. Who through Paul taught the necessity of love - 1Co 13:1-3
      2. Who taught the meaning of love - 1Co 13:4-8
      3. Who taught the permanency of love - 1Co 13:9-12
      4. Who taught the preeminence of love - 1Co 13:13
      -- Let the Holy Spirit be our instructor when it comes to love

CONCLUSION

1. Who can deny the importance of love to our spiritual well-being...?
   a. It is evidence of spiritual regeneration
   b. It is necessary to spiritual happiness

2. Let us therefore make sure that our love...
   a. Is not carnal, self-centered
   b. But is spiritual, God-centered and other-centered

The best way we can ensure this is true in our lives, is to love as
Christ loved us:

   "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in
   love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us,
   an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."

                                                       - Ep 5:1-2

Finally in our "Spiritual Wellness" checkup, we shall ask "How Well Do
You Hope?"...
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