Love’s Evil Twin

“I love you because you make me feel complete.”
“And I love you because you make me feel like the most special person in the world.”
Oh, ain’t love grand?
Trouble is, what most people think of as love isn’t really love at all. It’s selfish because it’s self-gratifying and self-glorifying and, therefore, self-centered. Contrast that with God’s concept of love, which involved giving Himself – though perfect and sinless – for our redemption. Our concept of love is actually love’s evil twin. 
Let’s do a side-by-side comparison of our love with God’s. Here’s something typical of what we say:
“Can you please not tell that joke again? GRRRRR!”
Here’s what God says:
Love is patient; love is kind.
– 1 Corinthians 13:4a
Us:
“What did she do to deserve a house like that?” or “At least one of us somewhat resembles our wedding pictures!”


God:
Love does not envy or boast.
– 1 Corinthians 13:4b
Us again:
“I wasn’t talking to YOU!”
And Him:
(Love) is not arrogant or rude.
– 1 Corinthians 13:4c-5
Back to us:
“If we don’t go to my favorite Italian restaurant, I’d really rather just stay home.”
And back to Him:
It does not insist on its own way.
– 1 Corinthians 13:5b
You-know-who:
“Put your own clothes in the hamper, already!”
And let’s-hope-you-know-Him:
(Love) is not irritable or resentful.
– 1 Corinthians 13:5c
And here’s us:
“Boy, you’ve given me some serious ammunition this time!”
And here’s God:
It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
– 1 Corinthians 13:6
Us:
“Don’t try to make excuses! I know what you really meant!”
Him:
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
– 1 Corinthians 13:7
What we say:
“I’m done.”
What God says:
Love never ends.
– 1 Corinthians 13:8a
May we learn to love us as He has loved us, even when love is hard, because it is. But that’s what makes it worth celebrating.