[𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝟺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘵𝘸𝘰-𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴.𝘤𝘰𝘮: “𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦”]

I remember reading in a book somewhere that a truly romantic act is often expensive, illogical, and horribly inconvenient.  Even King David refused to offer sacrifices to the LORD that cost him nothing (2 Samuel 24:24).  

In our studies this week, we have certainly seen how the Good Samaritan went to great lengths, at personal expense, to care for a perfect stranger, even a member of a group of people who despised Samaritans!  None of those details stopped a man compelled by genuine compassion.  He chose to act anyway.

We go the extra mile, usually far out of our way.  We pay the price, no matter what it costs us.  We clear the schedule.  We make the extra stop.  We carry more than our hands can hold.  We expend literal blood, sweat, and tears to meet the need, honor, or simply spoil those we care about.

Why?  The answer is simple: LOVE.

Inconvenience is just scraping the surface.  “Inconvenient” describes anything that brings trouble, difficulty, or discomfort.  Genuine love is willing to pay a much greater price.

Greater love has no one than this – than to lay down one’s life for his friends (John 15:13).

To love like JESUS loves is to acknowledge the risk of utter rejection, hatred, disregard, persecution, misunderstanding, ridicule, and more – to know there is no guarantee that love will be received, appreciated, or reciprocated – and choose to love anyway.  Give anyway.  Spend the money anyway.  Stretch your bounds of strength or time or resources for the sake of someone else anyway.

A number of times through scripture, as followers of JESUS, we are called to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). We can be sure we will feel the weight of those burdens.  Shouldering the load for someone else is hard.  It pushes us out of our comfort zone.  It can cost us dearly.

But how else will we communicate to the object of that love (or to the One whose heart we reflect) that their benefit is worth our sacrifice?  If our effort doesn’t cost us something, how much does it mean to us?  How much does that need or that person mean to us?

We love because the LORD JESUS first loved us (1 John 4:19).  The fruit of His own Spirit equips and compels us to love like He does (Galatians 5:22).

May we never let inconvenience (or much greater expense) deter us from extending genuine love to someone else.  Let us make ourselves available to the LORD, to be His vessels through whom He can demonstrate His loving kindness to those around us.

Love GOD.  Love others.

We will never regret either.

There may come a day when we will only wish we had given more.

Don’t just pretend to love others.  Really love them.  … Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.  Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the LORD enthusiastically.  Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.  When GOD’s people are in need, be ready to help them.  Always be eager to practice hospitality. (Romans 12:9-14, NLT)