The power of Love

Jesus made an astounding statement in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” The first undeniable principle of “abundant life” is the fundamental Law of Love. Love is the channel through which every human endeavour should pass, because love has the power to bring about victory – “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8). The ‘power of love’ if often sung about but never fully understood. Secular society promotes a love that is both cute and insignificant (i.e. cupid), or sensual and addictive. Even tender or caring love is often a front for selfish and hidden motives. The only kind of love that has any real power is “agape” – the ‘God-kind’ of love. This kind of love never ever fails!

I believe that one of the reasons why agape never fails is because it effectively empowers, or commissions, all other godly principles. “To love” is the single commandment Jesus gave us (John 15:12), and it transcends all other moral statutes. 1 Corinthians 13:13 declares, “Now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” When you obey Jesus, and walk in love toward your fellow man, you will be able to implement any other success principle with complete confidence. You’ll also be able to achieve your destiny.

What’s truly fascinating about Jesus is the love factor. It astounded the Roman mentality of the first century. The armies of man accustomed to the use of force found the ‘power of love’ beyond their comprehension. And it’s still the same today. The love factor confuses the non-Christian – who equates love with approval or performance. “I love you if you will love me back.” But agape is totally unconditional. Agape loves the unqualified! Agape is fully dependent on the attitude and character of its source and not on the one at the receiving end. Agape is the placement of true value on another person. And, agape is perpetuated through generosity. This God-kind of love is totally different.

Note, when your attitude is love, it will always result in you giving; giving in love is depriving yourself in order to benefit another. “For God so loved… He gave” (John 3:16). “…Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). “Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us” (Ephesians 5:2). Therefore, when you operate in the Law of Love you activate the Law of Sowing and Reaping (Cause and Effect). How does this work? Giving out of love is the best seed that you can sow into any area of your life. It will cause all forms of prosperity to flow back to you and bring about success in all maters of life. Liberal giving equals abundant living.

Why not go through this simple exercise? Examine the most important parts of your life – your family, your health, your work, your financial situation and all you’re other activities. Then try to observe the “cause and effect” created in those relationships because you gave out of love, did not give enough love, or did not give any love at all.

If you are being honest with yourself, you will find that every area that now needs attention simply needed more love (back then). If you did not provide sufficient love, or did not operate in a correct attitude of love - in any aspect of your life - that neglected part becomes dysfunctional. Just as love never fails it is equally true that a lack of love never fails, but in the negative.

For instance, if you do not love yourself sufficiently, you may neglect your health and get sick, overweight or even too thin. You ought to love yourself before you can love others! If you are not bringing sufficient love into the workplace, you are probably not going to be that popular in your job. Sow love - get love! If you don’t show love and appreciation toward your children, they will never respect you. Respect breeds respect! If your financial situation is grim, maybe you have not loved enough to give away enough. Sow bountifully, reap bountifully! Whatever has become dysfunctional in your life can probably be put down to an absence of or lack of love. Insufficient love has a very negative effect on your relationships, health, finances and ministry.

Love is the very foundation upon which you should build your entire value system. And your value system should be the measure for all of life’s activities. Ephesians 3:17-19 confirms this, “I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge; that you may be filled with the fullness of God.”

To be rooted and grounded in love, and consequently, to know the love of Christ, is the essence of a greater fullness. “All the fullness of God” speaks of more than one experience or one aspect; it points to all of God’s blessings, resources and wisdom. That is, what’s been made available to you through Jesus Christ – the means by which you can live a successful and abundant life?

When you operate in love, in fact, you operate in God. 1 John 4:16 declares, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Him.” This has to be the most profound truth concerning the principle of love. When you choose to abide in love toward your fellow man, you get to hang out with God and He gets to hang out with you. Love brings about perfect and complete fellowship between the Creator and His creation. It’s like being back in the Garden of Eden once more. And consequently all dominion is yours. This means that you can legitimately rule and reign on this earth.

Remember, when you choose to operate in the “God-kind of love,” God’s promise for a successful and abundant future is yours because you have His awesome power impregnating every situation to bring about victory. And it’s there because He is there! If God be with you, who can be against you?

Live in love – live in victory!

Chris Demetriou, 10/02/2008