How Much To Throw Out?

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Igzy

For me the answer, if there is one, has been to try to do everything out of love. Love means seeking the genuine good of others even if doing so requires sacrifice on our part. When considering these issues the Bible isn't clear about and even in attempting to apply the ones it is clear about, I am learning to ask myself "Is love my motive?" and to not be satisfied until the answer is yes.

Love is the ultimate fine tuner both of what we do and how we do it.

I'm thinking of Brother Lawrence and how his goal in life was to do everything for the love of God. He was nobody, just another obscure monk in a monastery. Yet five hundred years later he is still remembered. That tells me something.

In the Word, the Bible is clear that love is balanced with truth. Does genuine love exist apart from truth? The verses below indicate that truth and love go hand in hand. Love, apart from truth is unbalanced. Truth (applied), apart from love is unbalanced. Zech. 8:19 even says "love the truth".

IMHO truth is absolute. Love isn't. We need both truth and love, together, in every situation. Our motive can be truth and love.

Isaiah 61:8 For I the Lord love judgment, ... and I will direct their work in truth, ... .
Zechariah 8:19 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; ... therefore love the truth and peace.
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
2 John 1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
2 John 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
3 John 1:1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

Nell