Are You Feeling Loved?
A1
Most people want love, feel loved, and give love to others. Yet, do
we love? Do we love our spouse? Do they know that? Do they feel
loved? Do you love your children? Do they feel loved? Do you love
your parents, your brothers, your sisters, your fellow Christian?
A2
Most people do not feel loved
B1 Loneliness is a growing
problem.
C1 Nearly
half of
Americans report sometimes or always feeling alone (46 percent) or
left out (47 percent).
C2 One
in four
Americans (27 percent) rarely or never feel as though there are
people who really understand them.
C3 Two
in five
Americans sometimes or always feel that their relationships are not
meaningful (43 percent) and that they are isolated from others (43
percent).
C4 One
in five people
report they rarely or never feel close to people (20 percent) or feel
like there are people they can talk to (18 percent).
C5 Americans
who live with others are less likely to be lonely (average loneliness
score of 43.5) compared to those who live alone (46.4). However, this
does not apply to single parents/guardians (average loneliness score
of 48.2) – even though they live with children, they are more
likely to be lonely.
C6 Only
around half
of Americans (53 percent) have meaningful in-person social
interactions, such as having an extended conversation with a friend
or spending quality time with family, on a daily basis.
C7 Generation
Z (adults
ages 18-22) is the loneliest generation and claims to be in worse
health than older generations.
B3 The Bible addresses this,
too.
C1 Matthew 24:12 GNB Such
will be the spread of evil that many people's love will grow cold.
C2 Romans 12:9 WEB Let
love be without hypocrisy.
Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.
C3 1 John 3:18 WEB My
little children, let’s not love in word only, neither with the
tongue only, but in deed and truth.
A3
What is love?
B1 It is a choice. It is a
choosing that I will treat someone special.
C1 Some choose to make the
choice to love money and wealth: Luke 16:13
WEL "No
household servant can serve two masters, for he will hate the one and
love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the
other. You cannot serve God and Mammon."
Even though love of money is A root of evil: 1 Timothy 6:9-10
WEL Those who
determine to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and into many
foolish and harmful cravings, which drown men in destruction and
eternal ruin. 10 For the love of money is a root of all evil, which
some, longing for, strayed from the faith and pierced themselves with
many sorrows.
C2 Some choose to love power:
3 John 1:9 WEB I
wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among
them, doesn’t accept what we say.
C3 Some choose to love this
world, its pleasures, its lusts: 1 John 2:15-17 WEB Don’t
love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone
loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. For all that is
in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s. The
world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will
remains forever.
C4 Some choose to supremely
love themself: 1 Timothy 3:2-5 WEL For
people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, braggers,
arrogant, users of abusive language, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, impossible to
please, false accusers, unable to control themselves, fierce,
despising those who are good, 4 Traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers
of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 Having an appearance of
godliness but having spurned its power.
C5 What we are to love: Luke
10:27-28 GNB92 The
man answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with
all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind’; and
‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’” “You are right,”
Jesus replied; “do this and you will live.”
B2 Love’s actions are listed
in the Bible. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
WEL Love is very
patient and kind; love is not envious; love doesn't brag about
itself, is not haughty, 5 Doesn't behave improperly, is not
self-seeking; love isn't easily aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of
wrongs, 6 Doesn't rejoice in injustice, but rejoices with the truth,
7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures
all things. 8 Love never ends.
B3
We choose to do these things.
B4 Choices have consequences:
Proverbs 1:26-29 GW
I will laugh at your calamity. I will make fun of you when panic
strikes you, 27 when panic strikes you like a violent storm, when
calamity strikes you like a windstorm, when trouble and anguish come
to you. 28 "They will call to me at that time, but I will not
answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me, 29
because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD.
A4
4 Greek words for love
B1 ἀγαπάω agapaō
which refers to love is a choice. It is the deepest love. This is the
love we are talking about today.
C1 John 3:16 NKJV For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
C2 Matthew 5:43-44 NRSV You
have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate
your enemy.' (44) But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you.
C3 2 Timothy 4:10 NRSV For
Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to
Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
B2 φιλέω phileō which
refers to brotherly love, that is, the love of friends. It is a
personal attachment to something (Strong’s Lexicon) and affection.
Thus, it is possible to love your spouse as agapaō and phileō.
C1 John 5:20 NRSV The
Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and
he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be
astonished.
C2 John 12:25 NRSV Those
who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this
world will keep it for eternal life.
C3 1 Corinthians 16:22 NRSV
Let anyone be
accursed who has no love for the Lord. Our Lord, come!
B3 ἔρως érōs is sexual,
passionate, physical love, even infatuation. This word is not in the
Bible.
B4 στέργω stergo which
is to cherish. It is used in the negative use 2 times in the New
Testament (ἄστοργος astorgos).
C1 Romans 1:31 NKJV
Undiscerning,
untrustworthy, unloving,
unforgiving, unmerciful.
Another translation: Romans 1:31 GW Don't
have any sense, don't keep promises, and don't
show love to their own families
or mercy to others.
C2 2 Timothy 3:3 NKJV
Unloving,
unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of
good. Another
translation: 2 Timothy 3:3 GW And
lack normal
affection for their families.
They will refuse to make peace with anyone. They will be slanderous,
lack self-control, be brutal, and have no love for what is good.
A5
Some pointers, think about it.
B1 Turn media off, put the
phone down, take the earbuds out.
B2 Turn your eyes, ears, and
attention to your spouse. Her opinion is most likely better than
yours.
B3 Your wife does NOT need a
strong hand to lead her. Just. Stop. That. Kind. Of Thinking.
B4 Listen to her. This is not
just looking at her and making mocking expressions pretending to
listen. LISTEN!
B5 When you ask a question,
wait for an answer. WAIT! In a study with teachers it was found that
those who wait at least 3 seconds for an answer improved students
attitude. (Source)
B6 There IS A DIFFERENCE
between talking TO and talking WITH your child, your spouse, your
parent, your brother, your sister, your neighbor.
B7 If you see something that
needs to be done, do it. If you see your wife busy and the dishes
need washing, wash, dry, and put them away.
B8 Your wife drinks coffee in
the morning? Get her cup out for her.
B9 SHOW compassion!
B10 If you are a boss, a
manager, a supervisor, do the same for your employees.
B11 If you are an employee, do
the same, do the same for your boss.
B12 You can be kind and SHOW
you love your wife.
B13 Show love every possible
time to glorify God.
B14 As much as possible live
in peace with all people.
B15 You will fail at times,
but God gives grace.
B16 Memorize 1 Corinthians
13:4-8a and practice doing these things every single day in public
and private.
Copyright
© 2018 by Len Gane All rights reserved.
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