The Love Test
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Amara and Suma were both very young and happy when they met at a youth camp. They took to each other right away. After dating for three years, they got married at a lavish fairytale wedding. You could see the joy in their eyes as they said their vows. It was stunningly beautiful.
Everything was going on well: Amara had a great job with a multinational organization, and Suma worked at a bank; so money was not a problem. Three years down the line, the subprime mortgage crisis happened, and hit Amara’s company very hard. They had only two options: to cut costs, or sink with costs! They took the more difficult option and decided to cut costs. They shut down some of their not-so-profitable operations, and scaled down their non-mission critical departments. Amara was in one of those operations that were shut down, and he lost his job! Amara’s training was very specialized so he knew it would take a while to get another job. He had some investments in money market instruments that were throwing off income regularly, so he knew he was covered till he got another job. A year after the loss of his job, however, a new government policy threw the company he invested with into liquidity difficulties, and made it difficult for them to pay him his regular income. Amara still brought home what he could wring out of the investment company, but was not as much as he used to bring; so Suma started bearing a major part of the household costs. They seemed to be handling everything well, but after a few months of bearing a major part of the household costs, Suma became withdrawn, then she started eating out of home and brought none to her husband. She became disrespectful and abusive of her husband, and would often ask,
“Is there a man in this house?”
The change in Suma surprised Amara, and also hurt him a lot, but nothing could change Suma’s attitude; not even counseling. To Suma, it was the man’s job to bear the expenditures of the home, and if that fails at any time, he does not deserve the role of a man any more.
This went on for a while, but Amara got a call one day to attend an interview. It happened that his good work ethics made his former employer recommend him to another company. He got the job, but their marriage was never the same. He started bringing money home again, but became very distant, talked little, and ate from his friends’ like he used to during the crisis. Nothing anyone did could bring things back to normal. They lived like strangers in the same home. After a while they agreed it was not working anymore, and went their separate ways. It was just before their sixth anniversary. Their marriage could not stand the test of adversity.
Their marriage failed because they lacked the two important foundations of marriage: sacrifice and forgiveness. The more of these two you have in marriage, the better the marriage; and the less you have, the worst your marriage. The marriage would limp on one leg if only one partner is giving these, and would fail when that leg gets tired; and often, one leg gets tired. The ideal marriage has both partners giving sacrifice and forgiveness in full measure!
In yesterdays’ devotional, entitled “Love,” I asked certain questions of those involved in the recent spate of lethal domestic incidents. Those questions mean nothing if they are not founded on sacrifice and forgiveness.
Sacrifice and forgiveness are mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:5 without those exact names:
Love “is not self-seeking” refers to “sacrifice”
Love “keeps no record of wrongs” refers to “forgiveness“
Everything else in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 revolves around these two:
You need sacrifice and forgiveness to be patient and kind with someone who doesn’t deserve your patience and kindness. You need sacrifice for you not to be envious, boastful and proud even though you have very reason to be. You need sacrifice and patience for you not to get angry and dishonour others when that is exactly what they deserve! You need sacrifice not to delight in evil but rejoice in the truth, when all you see around is evil. You need sacrifice and forgiveness to protect, trust, always hope, and always persevere; when the other does not deserve them.
The greatest demonstration of the perfection of love, in sacrifice and forgiveness, was Jesus Christ. In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote in Romans 5:8:
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Sacrifice and Forgiveness).
But here is the most profound of all. In the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, Jesus made a statement, which is arguably the most popular scripture text ever. He said,
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16 NIV)
Because God loved the world(Love), He gave his only Son (Sacrifice) so that those who believe in Him should not perish (Forgiveness) but have everlasting life.
God could not have maintained His love relationship with man without the sacrifice of his Son, and his forgiveness of our sins.
The most important equation for marriage and all other relationships is:
Love = Sacrifice + Forgiveness
Sacrifice and Forgiveness are the foundations of the purest form of love. Any other foundation is in sinking sand.
To test your love, check if you have Sacrifice and Forgiveness.
MEMORY VERSE
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:8)
QUESTIONS
What are the foundations of your love?
Do you know it will fail without sacrifice and forgiveness?
PRAYER TIP
Father, please help me to understand the essence of sacrifice and forgiveness in love.
URGENT CALL
Every soul is valuable to God, far more than the entire world! But by nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God, and we ultimately face his wrath!
God in His mercy and love made a way for us to remedy this. He gives us a chance to reverse this downward spiral to destruction, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God! A soul, much, much more valuable than the world, has been saved from destruction!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for guidance if you want to make that decision.
Then develop your new relationship with God through your Quiet Time.
Then find a Bible-Believing Church where you can Fellowship with like minded people.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page, or the ones at the top of this page. Don’t delay. Make this very personal decision today!
God richly bless you
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
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