How high is the bar of your love?

1 John 3:16
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

A bar is a standard we ought to reach in order to be qualified. If the bar is too low it means the standards are too low and anyone can reach it. If the bar is too high it means the standards are too high and not everyone can reach it. How high is the bar of love?

If there is a standard those who love you should use, how high is the standard? If there is a standard to be used by those who you love and claim to love, how high should that standard be? How high is the bar of your love?

Knowingly and/or unknowingly we all have a standard of love. The standard determines how far we go to show love. The standard determines if we get satisfied with the love expressed to us. Your satisfaction or lack of it in matters of love may have everything to do with your bar of love. How high is the bar of your love?

Even where the five languages of love apply, the bar of love determines satisfaction. Your language of love may be gifts, but how high is your bar of gifts? Your language of love may be quality time, but how much time is satisfactory? How high is the bar of your love?

The Bible records that Christ expressed His love by giving us quality time, He is Immanuel God with us. How high is that bar of quality time? He says I will be with you to the end of the age. I will be with you eternally. What a high bar of quality time?

The Bible records that God gave us a gift. He gave His life. He died for us. Our text today tells us that He also expects to die for others. The bar of love is this high? Yes, it is that high! How high is the bar of your love?

1 John 3:17
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

If you can’t give material possession to the needy, you don’t love them. If you can’t share material things your love is false. If you are comfortable having while others suffer for lacking, the love of God is not in you. The bar of love is this high? Yes, it is that high! How high is the bar of your love?

If in your marriage relationship you are struggling with money issues, think about this. If in your marriage you talk of my money and your money, it should be worrying. If in your marriage you can’t discuss money issues because you don’t want to be corrected you should worry. Love requires that be willing to give your life for your spouse. Therefore, money would be a very small matter if you can give life. The bar of love is this high? Yes, it is that high! How high is the bar of your love?

Do you waste money as your family suffers? Do you drink and enjoy life as your family struggles with needs? Do you provide for the children of someone else in a better way as your own children suffer? You lack God and the love of God in your life. The bar of love is this high? Yes, it is that high! How high is the bar of your love?

You hoard money as a wife, as your husband struggles to provide? Do you hoard money ready for the day you think he will leave you? You’d rather suffer need as a family than stop hoarding? You have no love of God nor God in your life. If your material goals are a priority over anyone suffering, you are not a believer. The bar of love is this high? Yes, it is that high! How high is the bar of your love?

How needy are your parents, siblings, and neighbors? Do you care or let them suffer for mistreating you and their laziness? Could this be a sign that you are not converted and that you don’t love them? The bar of love is this high? Yes, it is that high! How high is the bar of your love?

Love doesn’t mean squandering in order to show love. Love is responsible giving in order to have more to share in the future. May God make our love reach the high bar He has set for us, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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