For God So Loved The WorldSample

What’s in it for me? Though usually unspoken, this question often drives human behavior. While it’s natural to view relationships as an exchange, and to look for the most desirable or favorable outcome, our relationships often suffer when we elevate our own needs above the needs of others.

Fortunately, Jesus came not to satisfy his own needs but to meet our need (it’s terminal, by the way), even when we didn’t know we were needy. And He wasn’t seeking the satisfaction or approval of those He was serving; He sought the satisfaction of the only person whose opinion mattered: His Father, our Heavenly Father.

When we seek to satisfy God instead of others, two things happen: God is satisfied with our efforts, and we find relief from our futile attempts to be satisfied by the approval of others. It’s a win-win situation that calibrates our needs to the one person capable of meeting them. It also accomplishes what the hymnist captured so well: “And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

Although miraculous transformation is possible, growth in this direction is not usually an overnight change. It’s a gradual conversion from being self-focused (What’s in it for me?) to being others-focused (How can I best serve my neighbor?). But even then, our others focus is ultimately rendered as service to God, who modeled best what it looks like to be truly selfless, even unto death on a cross.

Every human being possesses a longing to be loved. This isn’t a weakness; it’s how we were created. The weakness, however, is revealed in what we choose as the object of our longing. While there is nothing inappropriate about being enriched by the love found in friendship or marriage or parenthood, we are diminished when we don’t look deeper into our need for love to hear the voice of God calling to us from that inner place.

Only God can meet your need to be loved. Speak your need and allow Him to fill it!