"Because we're living in a world of fools Breaking us down When they all should let us be We belong to you and me..."
Love is an overworked adjective if there ever was one and though love may be a many-splendored thing, the four-letter word we use to describe it seems inadequate to cover all the territory.
The apostle Paul does it justice when he said, "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." Hard to top that for a definition but let's give it a go.
Shakespeare is quoted as saying, "Love is a smoke made from the fume of sighs." That sounds beautiful and poetic but I have no idea what it means lol. Another interesting definition is that love is "the act of man reaching for his highest ideal." That sounds pretty grand and noble, doesn't it?
Joshua ben Joseph once said, "There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your brothers." Christianity has had a hayday with this quote, claiming it justifies the apostle Paul's atonement theology. But I think, what Joshua meant was that giving up your life in the service to others was the highest love. Service is all about living for others, not dying for others.
Joshua taught that our motives and desires were more important than our deeds because God judges the heart, human beings judge by outward appearance. What choice do we have? we can't see inside peoples' hearts; though a good judge would apply the mercy principle to people by trying to understand their motivation in committing crimes.
God is the judge of our good deeds though and not the punisher of our mistakes as many ancient cultures continue to insist. The next life is all about rewards, status and a continuation of our best self here on Earth. All our best acts of service, the best words we have spoken, the best ideas we've ever had are the seeds of our future eternal careers. Time is the womb of eternity. Plant your seeds wisely. Happy Hump Day peeps ❤️🌞🌎
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