Day 1 seems to indicate that the greatest lesson that we have to learn in life, and the most important thing in God's purpose for our lives, is learning how to love. How do you learn to love? I'm not sure what he means by that yet... I certainly don't agree that learning to love is life's greatest lesson, at least not from Matthew 22:38 .
Love is unnatural for us. Rick Warren identifies all the things we'd rather do pretty easily. Being self-centered is in our nature. In fact, we are naturally lovers of hate and lovers of everything that God hates.
Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. You don't "learn genuine love". It is a gift. "Sharing" or "expressing" love is a work of Jesus' Spirit, not my own. The fact that I am constantly a visible representation of non-love is product of my fallen nature. However, any time you witness any kind of expression of love from me, give thanks to God, because it is Him showing that love though me.
This lesson does help me see though that I'm not nearly as loving as I ought to be, given that God has shown me unmatched compassion, love, and charity. One way I know this is that He has given me an extended family through all my friends. The type of friends you can share life with. They may live here or in other states, but they make up a genuine community that I can turn to for love... pray for me to be available to them in the same way.
Whose will and plans are opposed to the will of God? The devil, the world, and our own sinful nature oppose the good and gracious will of God. - Martin Luther's Explanation of the Third Petition of the Lord Prayer Rick Warren makes the claim that love is an act of our will. He says that it is something that we have to put our minds to; a volitional (deliberate) act of our will. If so, I'm not doing so well. The part that really hits home with me is that God's standard of love is so far beyond what we can understand or even hope to accomplish.
There is good news though. Galatians 2:20 provides hope to us who are in Christ Jesus. The fact that Rick Warren changed the meaning of the passage by interchanging the word "life" from the text, with the word "love" from his topic, is a little annoying, but not at all far from the truth of the matter... All of my shortcomings in life (especially my lack of love) are overshadowed by the fullness of the new life in Christ Jesus that now spontaneously works in and through me to love others.
Day 3 puts a lot of focus on loving other believers. Granted, we should always be available to our brothers and sisters in Christ, bearing each other's burdens and providing for each other in every need - material, emotional, and spiritual. However, it is a bit of a stretch to say that Ephesians 5:2 is a great reference verse for defining the essence of love as how much we give of ourselves. Instead, I'd say it is a perfect reference verse for defining the essence of love as how much God gave of Himself. Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 is an excellent passage for seeing the heart of God. If we want to be imitators of God, imitators of His love, we have to understand what it means that He reconciles all of humanity to Himself in Christ, not counting our sins against us.
At the end of Day 3, Rick Warren poses the several questions, that he believes you better be ready to answer when Jesus questions you on Judgment Day. It kills me to think that people will read this and live with fear that God is standing in heaven poised with a blinding light your eyes in some eternal interrogation chamber, "Why didn't you show love to that person in need! Why did you make work more important than people!" There is no scriptural evidence that this is what awaits us on the last day. The opposite is true... God is waiting with open arms, ready to not count our sins against us who are in Christ Jesus. Please remember that in Christ we are the righteousness of God.
Day 4 has about 2 paragraphs of redeemable content. It is so frustrating to start reading, find truth and value in what someone is saying, just to have them do a total 180 right when they have you hooked.
It is absolutely true that Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, evident and obvious in the works of those who have been transformed by the grace of God through faith in Jesus. God's gift of salvation is freely given. In your baptism, the Holy Spirit works faith in your heart, and the powerful promise of Ephesians 2:8-10 is in full affect. That new creation in Christ Jesus was given freely to accomplish the good that God intends to be done.
For that reason, I'm appalled by the line,
Consider this: if you have no love for others, and if you're only concerned about your own needs, then you should question whether Christ is really in your life.
Why causes believers to stumble and doubt the salvation that is graciously and freely given? His own reference to 2 Peter 1:3 refutes the accusation that an unloving heart is a disconnected heart. Read through verse 9 and you'll see that the unloving heart is simply a sinful heart. Recognition of sin is the power of the Holy Spirit on working in opposition to our sinful nature. That Old Adam will be with us until we die. Until then, forgiveness is freely and continually given to the contrite repentant sinner.
Please remember, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." (2 Peter 1:3)
Day 5 gives us a good perspective on the Church being more than the place we go on Sunday. It brings to light that the Body of Christ is family, the type of family where everyone is deeply concerned for the well being of the other members. The type of family where you do things for each other that you wouldn't do for anyone else.
He quickly identifies that not all physical families fall under such a utopian description, and thus some of us may not be able to identify with how this genuine community is supposed to function. I might have suggested that those physical families that have problems are probably more like the modern day Church family then we'd like to admit.
I have to say being a part of a genuine community of believers is a blessing beyond all blessings. I was a part of that kind of community at one time, and it made such an impact on me that I still feel the emptiness of not having that deep connection with other believers. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that I don't feel connected to my Christian family. It just isn't the same. I think this is what Rick Warren had in mind when he said, "we long to belong".
I'm not sure what the point is of "choosing you spiritual legacy". It isn't about some eternal legacy. It is about being a family that supports & encourages, strengthens and admonishes, and ultimately endures during this short journey of mortal life ( Psalms 103:13-18 ). Helping each other leads to the opening of your heart to be touched and molded by the love of Christ, which is working on you continuously through your Christian family.
What is the big idea preaching about rewards in heaven for how well we love on earth? Isn't it reward enough to be in heaven? Isn't knowing Christ the greatest reward? Why would I want to covet these rewards so much? How can I do anything that pleases God without Jesus? Didn't his perfect fulfillment of the Law, the requirement of love, become my perfect fulfillment when I became a believer? It sure seems to me that every reward is mine, and every believer for that matter, by way of His grace?
If you want to study scripture in a more topical way, you should invest in a Thompson Chain Reference Bible. They have them in the commonly accepted New International Version translation. Having this reference made it possible to quickly find most every passage concerning Rewards in Heaven. If I had to break it down into the simplest, most definitive scriptural terms, I can now say with certainty that... there will be rewards in heaven. <long pause> That's it... there will be rewards. What are they? Well, scripturally speaking they are a bit vague... ...will shine like the stars ( Daniel 12:3 ) ...will share in your masters happiness ( Matthew 25:23 ) ...will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High ( Luke 6:35 ) ...glory, honor, and peace ( Romans 2:10 )
Then there are these references to spiritual crowns. The one thing in common with all of the rewards... they are given by God. He's the righteous judge that will be handing out these rewards. I think I'll leave that work up to Him. Our pastor states it very well: Do not be burdened thinking that you are missing out on better rewards because you don't love. Rather, love freely and let God take care of the rewards.
It is hard to accept, but absolutely true, that all eyes are on us as Christians. It goes beyond just showing love. Every eye is watching and waiting to expose hypocrisy of any kind. I have to honestly say... that sucks. Why? Because I'm a complete mess, a total screw-up... I'm the perfect model of a lousy Christian. I'm certainly not the most loving person in the world.
I think the idea behind "The whole world is watching how we love one another" goes much deeper than just love. It reaches into all aspects of life - our words and actions - from our past and our present. Considering that despite my poor reflection of Jesus' love, God is still in the business of seeking and saving lost people, continually adding to the number of believers, I have to say that it isn't hopeless. I may not always be producing the healthiest of spiritual fruits, but God is bigger than my shortcomings.
That doesn't mean I have an excuse to stop loving. The contrary is true. What it does mean is that God is the one in whom our trust should lie. He knows where the world is looking... so he'll prepare in advance those opportunities for sharing His love. We need to be alert and ready to follow his lead.
© 2007-2010 - Jonathan E. Kuhl