Can we be so moral that we become disconnected with God? And I don’t mean just in the sense that we get busy doing all the traditional “good” things that we try to replace grace with works. I’m thinking a little deeper even than that.
Can we love people so much that we love God less?
Loving people should be our highest aim, right? I mean, that’s the problem that arises in the life of the person who tries to replace God with his or her own works. The rules of traditions alienate others. But what if we get so involved in love and acceptance that our passion for people becomes greater than our passion for God. Our highest goals are to love God and love people. But if we are only spending time with other people, whether we are showering them with love and grace or not, we are replacing God with them.
This is what I pondered one day. I stepped back from myself to see that the way I took care of others and showed love convinced me that I was full of Christ. They will know we are Christians by our love, right? But I was taking no time to spend with Him alone. He had become a stranger.
“But I was taking no time to spend with Him alone. He had become a stranger.” That’s a profound thought. I had not thought about it like this before, I like it- very convicting.
Jesus said to love God first, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Most of us don’t do that very well. Or, we do one and neglect the other.
The world today does not want to believe in God, and yet they say to love others and be kind to everyone. You see a lot of that on the news, people helping people, believing in the human spirit, believing in their own power. Kids are taught in school to “believe in yourself.” We need to start with God, then He will help us do the other. The more I commune with God, the better I can love others.
I think this happens when our view of love is skewed. Sometimes we forget that our source of love is not internal, but external. If I use a pitcher of water to fill up other cups, I will eventually run out. If I use a faucet, however, my cup can be full and I can continually fill up others. God is unquestionably the fountain of our love. When His love flows through us, we can invest in others. When we try to love on our own, we are missing out on our greatest connection and we will begin to love on our own. This is when we begin to esteem others more valuable than Christ, and that is dangerous.
Great thoughts!
That was put so well. I was really looking for some insight and you brought it. I like the illustration.