| The Christian Life | February 1940 |
Dwelling in Love
“God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”—I John 4:16
THE finite mind is not able to comprehend all that is implied in the term love, as it applies to God; although, through the Word, we are able to understand some of the ways in which God’s love is manifested; and from that obtain a general understanding of what constitutes love, as well as what it means for us to “dwell in love.” In I Corinthians 13, the Apostle Paul tells us of a number of things which love does, or does not do, and from this dissecting of the principle of love we also are able to approximate its meaning.
In the Common Version translation of I Corinthians 13, we are given the word charity instead of love. Pure charity is the act of giving where there is no hope of return—where there is no possibility that the one receiving the gift will be able to reciprocate. Thus seen, charity is, indeed, a very important element of divine love, although it is not all of it. The greatest gift of charity ever made was when God gave His beloved Son to be man’s Redeemer; and this is declared to be a manifestation of divine love—“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”—John 3:16
To dwell in love, therefore, we, like God, must be charity workers; that is, we must be unselfishly giving of our time, strength, means, etc., for the furtherance of His divine and loving plan for the blessing of others. These unselfish efforts, while made in the name of the Lord, are really for the blessing of our fellows, either of the body of Christ or else of the world in general. Nothing we can do for God will enrich Him, nor will our withholding make Him poor. He gave because He loved, and He wants us to give because we love. Doing this, we will be dwelling in love, hence, dwelling in Him.
Paul mentions other qualities of love besides that of mere giving, although the spirit of unselfishness manifested in pure charity is the basic ingredient of divine love. “Love suffereth long,” declares the apostle. Divine love has suffered, or endured, for more than six thousand years, awaiting the time decreed by divine wisdom for destroying sin and death in the earth. God has heard the “groanings of the prisoners,” and has been sympathetic to their cries, and thus He has been keenly affected by it, which will result in an increase of the world’s blessings in His due time.
Jesus suffered long, also, and now we have the opportunity to suffer long. If we endure this suffering in the spirit of unselfishness, knowing that it is the divine will for us, and a part of His loving purpose by which mankind is to be reconciled to Him and blessed, then we will be dwelling just that much more fully in love, and in God.
“Love … is kind,” adds Paul. We might give all our goods to feed the poor and yet be unkind in doing it; so kindness must also be added to charity as an ingredient of love. In the giving of our all in the divine service, are we endeavoring to be kind? Have we so completely abandoned self that the opposition of the world, or from other sources, does not stir us up to do unkind things or to speak unkind words? Are we able to have our “rights” trampled upon, and still to be kind? If so, we have moved in still a little closer to the inner circle of divine love; and are living just a little nearer to Him who is the fountain or source of all love.
“Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up;” that is, love is retiring and humble. One thing which causes a Christian to be puffed up and forward is the desire to shine, to be well thought of, and in this way, to get ahead in the world and among the brethren. The charity feature of love puts self-seeking of all kinds ‘in the background, hence one dwelling in love should display the spirit of humility and of true modesty. As in the parable given by Jesus, the truly humble Christian will not take the highest seat at the feast, until asked. And in the event he isn’t asked, he will be genuinely content with the lower seat; so manifestly so that none will get the thought that he has been slighted. There is a feigned humility against which each one of us should strive. Only pure love will enable any Christian to be truly humble.—Luke 14:7-11
“Doth not behave itself unseemly,” the apostle continues. Selfishness—self-interests—causes one to do strange things that annoy and injure others. Selfishness insists, for example, upon having its own ways, irrespective of the viewpoint or interests of others. But love surmounts the necessity or desire for such unseemly action, and is content to let others be victorious even though it be to the disadvantage of one’s self. If love is enabling us more and more to thus control ourselves, let us be thankful and rejoice in this further evidence that we are dwelling with God.
“Love envieth not,” and “Love … seeketh not her own”—that is, love does not seek the blessings and rewards of others, and is even willing to forego those which are properly its own. Thus love goes beyond mere justice. Justice has a right to demand its own, but love sacrifices its own,—yea, love sacrifices everything—“gives” up all in order that others might be blessed. If we are envious of others, love is lacking; or if we are insistent upon “our rights,” there is also a lack of love. Let us look well to our heart condition in these respects; for only those who are dwelling in love are dwelling with God.
“Is not easily provoked.” This is evidently a reference to the stirring up of one’s anger. Our anger will not be easily stirred if love is ruling in our hearts. Love will help us to find excuses for the one who is injuring us, or others. Nor will true love seek to hide behind the idea that there is a proper, righteous anger. There is, of course, a proper resentment against wrong-doing; but this is far removed from the anger which might be provoked in us by the imperfections of others—the anger which would cause us to retaliate in kind, and, by so doing, indicate that we lacked that degree of love which enables one to do good unto those who despitefully use us and persecute us. This is how God has acted toward a world that has maligned Him; and it is how love enabled Jesus to react toward the malicious persecution that was heaped upon Him. If the opposition of others “provokes” us merely to a greater love for them, then we have another evidence that we are dwelling in God.
Love “thinketh no evil.” This evidently means that love does not attribute evil motives to others. We cannot read the heart of another; for man “looketh on the outward appearance.” Love, therefore, will not think evil, even though every outward circumstance may indicate that evil is intended. Back of those outward circumstances there may indeed be an evil motive, but love will dictate that the decision in the matter be left in the hands of the Lord. It may be just as likely that we have misunderstood the circumstances, and that back of what may seem evil to us, is a pure heart intention which God sees and can bless.
Love “rejoiceth not in inquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.” What a heart-searching test this is! Do we find ourselves pained by iniquity even though the result of that iniquity might be of a nature that would give our flesh cause for rejoicing? If so, it is a further evidence that the true spirit of love is operative in our hearts. And if we can rejoice in truth and righteousness no matter how disadvantageously it may effect us, let us be happy. It is so easy to compromise the truth when it is to our advantage to do so, and we need to be on the alert lest we be led into wrong-doing of this kind. It is not often that we fail in the big issues of life, but rather in the little things; so let us watch “the little foxes that spoil the vine.”
“Love never faileth;” for love is an abiding principle, an attribute of God, the great motivating power of all that He does. How utterly impossible, therefore, to be like God without being wholly sympathetic to, and controlled by divine love. Love was the motive back of the creation of all things. When man fell, it was love that moved to save him through the gift of the Son of God. Divine Love cares for all the interests of all God’s people, and today, whilst the world is engulfed in trouble, is showering the richest of blessings upon those who, in following in the Master’s footsteps, are walking in the way of love.
The great principle of Divine Love will continue to operate for the blessing of all who become God’s people throughout the Millennial age; and the people, under the administration of the New Covenant, will have the law of God, which is the law of love, written in their hearts. Throughout the endless ages of the future, Divine Love will ever be the force impelling God’s creatures to worship and serve Him, as well as to serve one another. Truly, love never faileth; and those who dwell in love will never fail, because they dwell in God; and He will see them through to glorious victory because they are in harmony with Him.