I pray also for those who will believe in me…
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
– John 17:20-21
We Were Made for Relationships
In the beginning God created man and gave him a beautiful garden to live in. Man enjoyed face-to-face communion with God Himself in their daily strolls through the garden. Even so, in the midst of this wonderful life, God makes the unusual observation, “it is not good for man to be alone.”
Do any of you find it odd that even with a close relationship with God, God still declares man is alone? And then, do you also find it strange that God’s solution is not more of Himself? God has made us to need other people as well as our need for Him.
Can We Love Others Too Much?
I used to feel guilty when I loved my wife, my kids, or other people too much. Is this really a possibility if we were created to need and love them?
I propose that we cannot love others too much.
1. We May Love God Too Little
However, we may love God too little. As we grow in our love for God, room to love the people God loves also grows. We cannot say we love God and not love others (1 John 4:20). Therefore as long as our love for others doesn’t exceed our love for God, we cannot love others too much. Since there is no limit to how much we can love God, then there is also not a limit to how much we can love others.
2. We May Not Love Ourselves Enough
However, we may not love ourselves enough. We are commanded to love our neighbor as yourself (Matthew 19:19). Therefore we have to love ourselves to properly love others. As we learn how much God loves us, we understand we are worthy of infinite love and therefore cannot love ourselves too much. As our love for ourselves grow, then our ability to love others grow.
Therefore allow your love for others to grow more and more. You are created to give and receive love. Step into the fullness of God’s love for you by actively loving others.