WHAT DO YOU MEAN "I LOVE YOU"?
Dennis Rainey interviewed a man who had been stung by his father’s filthy heart, his failure to love. As a boy his dad decided to leave his mom for another woman. The Dad kissed his son on the forehead, said “I love you,” and walked out the door. What could he possibly have meant when he said that he “loved” his son?
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Does anything in that list describe the man’s actions toward the boy or his mother?
I would argue that what he’s doing is entirely the opposite of love. Love is NOT self-seeking. Love does not delight in evil - in unrighteousness. What he meant when he said “I love you” is “I have some level of affection for you. I wish the best for you.” But not at the expense of what I THINK is best for me. I love YOU some, but I love ME MORE.
He would later admit to his son that not a day goes by where he doesn’t regret the decision he made. That is a heavy price to pay for freedom. When he walked out the door he felt liberated I’m sure, but for how long?