Is That Really Love???

God is Love (1 John 4:8).  We have heard this said often because God's Love is the foundation of our faith.  This seems like such a simple concept, yet it can cause problems for some studiers of the Word.  It doesn't take long to flip through the Bible and see by the Lord's hand-pain, suffering, punishment, and the promise of hell for those who reject Him.  The question has been similarly asked by believers and nonbelievers, "Is that really love?"

If you think of love as all warm and fuzzy you are missing a big part of what love is.  It is important to understand that true love is not devoid of pain.  Jesus certainly suffered pain on this earth.  He was not spared rejection, punishment, or hurt, and He was sinless.  He demonstrated the depth of His love by hanging on a cross to make a way for us to the Father.  We call the day Christ was sacrificed "Good Friday". 

All pain may feel bad, but we need to understand that all pain or punishment is not bad.   If you set a good boundary for your child and they cross it, you must follow through with the consequence.  If you don't they will never learn to stay safe and will  continue to test the boundary; crossing further and further until you finally say STOP! When you put your hand on a hot stove you immediately pull it back. Why?  The response to pain is a huge tool to the human body and provides protection individually and corporately. 

If you have ever put a child in time out or imposed a consequence for disobeying, you demonstrated love.  You weighed the 'warm and fuzzy' with the 'tough call' and chose to teach something very important to them.  Ever squirted a cat with a water gun?  Ever taken away the teenager's cell phone or car keys?  If done to teach a valuable lesson, then that is love. 

Before the punishment there should always be a warning.  It wouldn't be fair or loving to just walk into a room, pick up a child, and slam them in the time out chair without so much as a word.  Boundaries must be clearly set and understood for the consequence to be appropriate. 

That brings us to a Scripture passage I was recently asked to explain:

 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.  But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." 


"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?  It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.  Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.  But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’  and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.  The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.  He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  Matthew 24: 42-51

Whew!  That is a harsh word and can be a difficult picture to connect with love.....or is it?  These words are Jesus' words.  He said them privately to His disciples (Matthew 24:3) who were the founding father's of the New Testament Church.  He was warning the 'servant in charge of the house' to keep watch and feed the fellow servants of the household.  Who is the servant in charge?  What house?  Let's look at a few words in the original Greek to help us get the whole picture Jesus was painting.


Master-(kurios)-he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.  This title is given to: God, the Messiah.
 
Servant-(doulos) means a Bondman or Bondmaid


House-(oikia) means the dwelling itself


Matthew Henry Commentary says: "Now this parable, with which the chapter closes, is applicable to all Christians, who are in profession and obligation God's servants; but it seems especially intended as a warning to ministers; for the servant spoken of is a steward."


Jesus was speaking to the leaders of the Church.  They are 'in charge' of God's children, the Household of Faith.  They have been entrusted to care for, shepherd, disciple, and feed the people in the House of the Lord. 
 
Jesus tells the servant to give the house food, the King James uses the word 'meat'.   Not fluff and stuff Christianity, but the real preaching of Salvation and Christian instruction from the Holy Bible.  There is only One Way, Jesus.  The consequence to not obeying the true call for Ministers of the Word is pretty clear and it is consistent.
 
James 3:1 says, "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."
 
So to answer the question is that love?  Yes it is.  "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."  (2 Peter 3:9) 

The desire of the Lord is for ALL to come and have a daily relationship with Him. The duty of the shepherds of the flock comes with enormous responsibility.  The stakes are high, consequences serious, and the success or failure eternal.  God lovingly cares for His children and sets the bar very high for those whom He entrusts with their care.


Footnotes: Strong's Biblical Concordance (master, lord)Greek Strong's Number: 2962 Transliteration: kurios; (servant)Greek Strong's Number: 1401 Transliteration: doulos; (house)Greek Strong's Number: 3614 Transliteration: oikia; Matthew Henry Commentary, Concise and Unabridged texts.  Scriptures from the Holy Bible, NIV.