Finding Life Series

And when Jesus is asked the greatest commandment, the greatest principle for living life. We hear the answer in Matthew 22:37-40, 37Jesus answered him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ 40All of Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.” -- (GOD’S WORD)

Yet hearing that answer, it to often feels like another duty that is heaped on top of us instead of the invitation to finding the real joy and power in living life each day. Have you ever asked yourself the question in your message outline, Why do I love? __________________________________

When I say I have got to love, the motivation is guilt. It is something I ought to do, need to do, but am not wild about loving the Lucys of the world with their outer obnoxiousness. When I get to love, I realize the motive is grace, it is responding to the love God has shown to us through Jesus. Love motivated because God loves to love people, even outer obnoxious ones like me.

I learned this from a theologian named Albert Outler who was asked near the end of his life what he had learned over time, and replied, “I would tell people, ‘You’ve got to love. You’ve got to love.’ Now I have grown to realize this, ‘You get to love. You get to love.’”

God in His grace sends His son to die for us because of His love and desire to be in a relationship with us. And yet He does even more, instead of just zapping us and taking us to heaven as soon as we believe, He gives us opportunities to get to love people with inner peace and people with outer obnoxiousness. So why do you love? Got to or get to? Guilt or grace?

LIFE BUILDING TRUTH 3. CONTRIBUTE my life to touch others for Christ. Losing a million dollars and saying it was the best thing that ever happened to you, makes just as about as much sense as Jesus words here in Matthew 10:38-39, 38If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it. -- (NLT)

The May 2002 issue of Fast Company tells the stories of five people who worked for Enron, the company that in 2001 filed for the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history.

One person profiled in that article was Phyllis Anzalone. She went to work for the company in 1996 selling energy supply contracts. Her personal earnings quickly went to six figures. She says, "As devastating as it was, I’m glad I did it. It was like being on steroids every day."

But when Enron went bankrupt, she lost roughly one million dollars. She says, "The whole Enron debacle was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. I was so emotionally attached to that company, and it took so much life out of me." She had to lose a million dollars to get her life back. Jesus says we lose even more if we cling to it, but if we give it up, we will find it.