Who do you love?

Let's get honest here!  I am pretty good at loving those I like, at loving those who love me well, at loving those who are easy to love, who are fun to love, who have something to offer me ... I'm pretty decent at loving on those who have a real (make sure you note the word "real" there cause I don't do drama queens!!) need ... even strangers. 

BUT (you knew it was coming) ... I'm not so good at being loving to those who irritate or annoy me, those who suck up my time and energy (needlessly), who are mean or demanding, who aren't nice to me, who judge me unfairly, who could never offer me anything in return.  I might be cordial to them, even polite.  I might help them find someone who does care ... but that person's not often me!

BUT, Jesus set the bar HIGHER than all of that!  Look at what he said ... I don't know about you, but I'd like to do a little better than the run of the mill sinners or the pawnbrokers in the love department. 

"Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."   Luke 6: 31-38 (Msg)

Urrrgghhhhh ... this is where the "crazy" part of love comes in.  If we truly are going to make a difference in the world, we've got to give our best and go out of our way for the strangers and the "unworthy," for the "enemies" and the annoyers ... for those we like and those we don't.  I think the point's pretty clear here.  ANYONE would love someone who does something good for you!  Even sinners love the lovables!  I mean, aren't we all a little guilty of picking out the adorable kid in the class and giving him the extra attention??

Here are some reminders of what Paul's talking about, just so I don't forget ...
CRAZY love is ...

• expecting NOTHING in return
• loving our enemies, blessing those who curse us, being kind to those who kick us and talk bad about us and are mean
• being generous
• being gracious ... not doing well at that today!  Urgh, being tired!!
• loving even when people are at the worst
• not criticizing - OUCH!!
• not pointing out faults of picking on them. letting go of "battles"
• being easy on people - we DO have a choice!
• giving away what you have ... and sometimes what you don't have...

I learned a lot from a friend who loved like Jesus ... full on, no stopping, tackling hug, never say die, always there, don't count the cost, just love on people whatever that means ... and do it all the time!  After her funeral, I remember several of us commenting that it was inconceivable that she loved EVERYONE as extravagantly and as AMAZINGLY as she loved each of us, but she did ... and she even graduated from college doing it!  I want to love like that ... without getting tired!  Pretty sure that won't happen on my own!

It's a new semester.  That's exciting and it's overwhelming all at once.  I have a slate of people I meet with weekly and a group of folks that rotate in and out of each week.  Some days that just gets overwhelming for this introvert.  Some days I'll just be honest and admit that I really don't want to listen to what they have to say  ... some I wouldn't dare miss a meeting with because they are "easy" ... I love hearing about their lives and leave feeling refreshed.  Others, I feel overwhelmed, tired, and sometimes even secretly wish they would cancel.  I feel some days that every little bit of me gets sucked out with one more person who needs or wants one more thing from me (since I got home today ... hmmmm ... three phone calls, 10+ texts all asking me to do something "good") But that's when my love needs to be more than the run of the mill sinner and the pawnbroker ... that's where my love needs to come from a place deeper than my own ability.  That's when I need to let Jesus love out through me and be generous with my time, gracious with my encouragement, genuine with my actions.  That's when I need to follow through on the cards I "meant' to write, the gifts I "meant" to prepare, the encouragement I "meant" to give, the time I had hoped to keep for myself.  Whoooooooo ... better get to it!