The importance of loving God (last updated: 6th February 2024)
Why love God?
Surely God can survive quite happily without our love? The answer to that is almost certainly, yes, He can. The question needs rephrasing to 'can human beings made in God's image survive happily without loving Him', and the answer to that is, probably not, at least not in the full sense that God intended
for each of us. I know you will be thinking, well that is your opinion but where is the evidence?
The evidence comes in a variety of forms, none of which constitute proof in the normal sense of the word. There are many things in life that people accept as true even though concrete proof can never be given. This kind of acceptance usually follows from experience. Go along with the idea and see where it leads!
1 Corinthians 13:8,13
"All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever...
There are three things that remain - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love."
Some powerful reasons for adopting this philosophy
1) If we accept that God created us via Adam and Eve then surely it is somewhat incumbent on us to at least be in great awe of Him. This usually manifests itself in the form of love and adoration.
2) Scripture in many places speaks of the need to love God. Luke 10:25,28
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. 'Teacher,' he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
26 'What is written in the Law?' he replied. 'How do you read it?'
27 He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, "Love your neighbor as yourself.".
28 'You have answered correctly,' Jesus replied. 'Do this and you will live.' It is difficult to understand how anyone can truly claim to love God if he/she does not accept Him as Creator since it is the one thing that sets Him apart from us, attracting great respect and adoration throughout the ages.
If mankind rejects the Genesis account the basis for loving Him is greatly diminished.
3) We have no difficulty loving our children. The human race is unique in that it thrives on love. God created us with a heart of love so it is surely right and proper to love the one who made us this way?
4) Depression is a scourge of our time.
People everywhere need to believe they were designed for a purpose, that
they are not just here today and gone tomorrow, ultimatly as valueless as
a grain of sand on a seashore. This feeling of worthlessness that stems
from the outdated Theory of Evolution, however it is dressed up, is
understandably fueling many of the problems that are prevalent in society
today, including a steep rise in suicides, and increasing opioid use leading to dependency.
America is apparently facing an unprecedented suicide epidemic.
This epidemic of mental ill health has emerged over the same interval in history that traditional belief in God declined, combined with a steep fall in church attendance as a whole. The loss of faith can be attributed in no small part to Charles Darwin and other like-minded individuals keeping their belief in naturalism, rather than Creationism, alive in recent times.
Is this merely a coincidence or is there indeed a connection? Is there a spiritual dimension to our mental health that only God can put right?
Can we simply go it alone and thrive or do we need to acknowledge our need of Him by expressing our admiration for who He is? Arguably the best way forward, and perhaps the only way, is to seek to love Him as Luke and other Bible passages advise us to do.
5) Some families seem to suffer one terrible tragedy after another for no discernible reason. It is these kinds of occurence that not only cause the victims to lose any faith they had but also effects those around them in a similar negative way. How can the God of Love allow such things to happen? If God is all powerful He has the means to prevent bad things from happening, why doesn't He act?
God can influence our thinking if we let Him but His modus operandi is such that it doesn't allow Him to forcibly intervene and stop us from doing things with our bodies that may cause us harm in the short or long term.
We would not want God to operate coercively and impose His will in His dealings with us so He has granted us our wish to adopt His ideal plans for our lives on a voluntary basis only. Most of us opt to go our own way throughout much of our life because naturally we think we know best.
We cannot therefore blame God for foolish things that we might have done in, or with, our lives at various points.
We all experience sadnesses and disappointments in our lives but some people seem to suffer disproportionately. Believers know there is an answer to all of these complex questions but because they do not have the mind of God they are not privy to that knowledge and understanding. Sometimes the reason becomes clear after the passage of time.
We can never know what undesirable outcomes might have emerged at a later time if certain events had not taken place when they did.
God can see into the future, we cannot and should be grateful for that. For some people such tragedies have the reverse effect and they turn to God as never before.
When/if tragedy befalls us it is all too easy to forget all the good times we have had over many years and often, upon reflection, many Christians would have to admit that they didn't always fully appreciate them at the time, and acknowledge the part played by God in overseeing them. If only we could turn the clock back to the good times!
It is usually impossible to formulate an acceptable explanation for why these unforseen events that adversely impact our lives occured.
There is no better advice than to simply trust God to know what is best for us at each stage in our lives, and allow HIm to guide us on our path in the manner of a child being led by its parents.
For this to be possible we must continue to Love and honour Him.
6) Why would Jesus have given His life to save humanity if He did not have a special interest in us? If we are just advanced
animals why does God not wish to save chimpanzees as well? Charles Darwin and his followers today consider us to be evolved
animals. The Bible on the other hand states that we are unique in that we are 'made in the image of God', setting us apart from
the rest of Creation.
7) The Bible tells us that God loves His creation. Should we not in turn therefore try to love Him also?
8) Why not give it a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
So how do we learn to love God?
Fortunately this is easily answered. Simply ask God in prayer to help you to love Him. If you are earnest in your request it will surely be quickly granted to you. This seeded love is bound to grow over time if you feed and water it. Make it a priority and you may wish you had taken the step much earlier on in your life. Contrary to what many believe, in our experience, this will not diminish your freedom instead it will have the opposite effect of setting you free, open up new horizons, and you should begin to feel like a new, and perhaps a happier person.
We seem to have travelled a long way from our innocent past. It is difficult to watch the children performing and for your faith in humanity not to be restored.
A song school children used to love singing back in the late 1940's and early 1950's sums it all up nicely:
1 There is a green hill far away,
Outside a city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified,
Who died to save us all.
2 We may not know, we cannot tell
What pains He had to bear,
But we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.
3 He died that we might be forgiv'n,
He died to make us good,
That we might go at last to heav'n,
Saved by His precious blood.
4 There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin,
He only could unlock the gate
Of heav'n and let us in.
5 Oh, dearly, dearly has He loved!
And we must love Him too
And trust in His redeeming blood
And try His works to do.
Author: Cecil Frances Alexander
Cecil Alexander, one of the finest English women hymn writers, was born in Tyrone, Ireland. Before her marriage
to Rev. William Alexander in 1850, who became archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of Ireland, she was active
in the Sunday School movement that had started in Great Britain. Cecil Alexander loved to teach children spiritual truths
through the use of hymns suitable for them. She showed her concern for disadvantaged people by traveling
many miles each day to visit the sick and the poor, providing food, warm clothes, and medical supplies.
Recording by Shane Mickelsen and Jenny Oaks Baker.
