God is Love - Is not Self-Seeking

Love is not Self-Seeking

What does it mean to be self-seeking?

Great, “selfiish” but what does that mean?

What are ways that people can be self-seeking or selfish?

In relationships with friends?

In relationships with boyfriends or girlfriends?

In relationship with work/jobs?

In relationship with parents?

In relationship with church?

So, if love is not self-seeking, then what does it seek?

Receiving Love vs. Giving Love

What’s the difference?

Which seems more beneficial? Giving Love of course!

Let me ask you this. Many of you will one day move away from home and you will need to search for a new church. What are the things you might look for in a church in order to make a decision to join it?

Which of these ideas are self-seeking vs. giving of self?

The only way to live in Love is to be the lover.

If I were to say that 99% of all our problems, sin, and struggles in life are because of our own self-seeking would you agree with this? Why or why not?

Sure, there are external things that happen to us that we can’t control. For some of you going through something big right now it may be hard to see past that.

But, for most of your day to day issues or struggles, or sins what is the cause?

Has anyone ever heard that, “You have to love yourself before you can love someone else.”

Do you think this is true?

Very few people if anyone truly hates themself. Even if right now you are thinking, no I really hate the way I look or the way I laugh or whatever. Why do you hate that? Because deep down you really love yourself and you just wish those things were different. Why do you want them to be different? Because deep down you really love yourself!!

We talked about relationship with the opposite sex above, but this could show itself in lots of ways.

Lust takes, Love gives.

If our relationships are based on lust it’s a good idea to stop that relationship and rethink what loving someone really is.

God is Not Self-Seeking

Is this a hard one for anyone? why?

Well, whatever we think about love we will always attribute to God.

So if we have fallen for the idea that love should be given to me then we believe God is the same way.

How is God NOT Self-Seeking?

Free Will

He gives us choice in our life. And he wants us to make choices.

Besides choices outside of your control, how do we sometimes feel like God doesn’t give us a choice?

Do you think there would ever be an instance when God takes over and you wouldn’t be able to control yourself? Why or why not?

Orderly church service in 1 Corinthians 14 and following tells us that we have control over ourselves. It is also why the bible is inspired by the HS but each book has it’s own feel. Because though inspired the people writing the scriptures were not put into a trance and forced to write exactly what was given them by the HS.

God is not Self-Seeking in that he allows us choice.

Adam naming the animals. did he have full choice if a hippo was called a hippo? Or did God force him to name them certain things.

So, in our lives we are always faced with choices. Obviously sin is a wrong choice. But other things like where you go to school or what job you get is completely your choice. God is going to bless you either way!

God does not demand His own way!

When does God begin loving you? Really?

Gods love does not begin at salvation. He has loved you from the beginning.

1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us.”

There is no beginning to God’s love for us. It is eternal.

You can’t bargain with God for your love. Oh God, if you get me out of this one, I will love you forever!!”

God isn’t a need love junky! He doesn’t force you to love him. Why would bargaining work?

Does that work with you. “Hey, if you help me cheat on this test i will be your friend forever!”

Your love must be free, just as His love is free.

Is God effected by your sin? Why or why not?

So, why does God hate sin? Because he’s self-seeking and it angers him and hurts him in some metaphysical way?

So, why does God hate sin? Yes, he is a holy and perfect God. But what has he created you to be? A holy and perfect child of God.

Do we need to repent because God won’t forgive us if we don’t? Why do we repent?

God has already forgiven us. The real issue is, can you forgive yourself. You are harming your own life and sabotaging relationships and friendships in the process. We repent because it helps us recognize what we’ve done and moves us toward turning away from that sin.

It’s not about God. He is in anguish because of what your sin did to you!

Even when we spout on about how unworthy we are and sinful and wretched. God doesn’t get joy out of that. Why do you think God doesn’t get joy out of our unworthy humbleness?

Because that would be self-seeking. He did a miracle in your life and He doesn’t see you that way anymore. You are worthy and beautiful and loved and special. Your are seen as sinless.

Jesus took your sin and shame. He doesn’t get joy out of your feeling worthless. He changed you so you wouldn’t feel that way anymore.

God is ok if you get complemented for doing something kingdom related.

He has clothed you in his glory. He’s ok what you did brought God glory and a little sticks to you.

Farmer and the pastor. Fields of beauty - “Should have seen it before i got here!”

Moses face shown with the glory of the lord.