Selfless Surrender

2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2 BSB

In today’s world, we have a wonderful opportunity to gain knowledge like no other previous generation. Almost every one of us has the world at our fingertips through tiny screens, we call cell phones. Within the last several years, there’s been an explosion in the technology of artificial intelligence (AI). People have programmed AI so well, that at times, it can be difficult to distinguish between whether or not you are speaking to a real person or an AI program that sounds like a human being.

If you’ve written a book or an article, AI can check for proper grammar usage and punctuation. AI can now make suggestions for a better argument or the use of more articulate sentences. In fact, AI could write the book for you if you’re detailed enough in your requirements. AI can create pictures and videos that are so life-like that you’d think they were real. (A scary thought.) AI is also being used to write its own programs to solve complex, mathematical equations and many scientific puzzles, including calculating and proving out abstract theories.

If you want to know how to switch out the climate control panel in your car or fix your dishwasher, just YouTube it or ask AI specific questions, and BAM!! you’re on your way to fixing the issue yourself. In many ways, having all of this knowledge so readily available can be a blessing, like in the examples above. If there’s a common household problem that needs resolving, the internet offers a million and one ways to solve it. I especially enjoy this kind of knowledge because I like understanding how things work and how they go together. I can easily get pulled into a night of watching YouTube about things pertaining to any type of engineering. You like mathematics? There are millions upon millions of websites and videos you can get lost in. Want to become the best debater and sharpen your skills? Grab your phone and YouTube it. I think in some ways it’s good that knowledge is not out of reach for those who have a thirst for learning that is never quenched.

Just as much as it is can be good, it can also be distracting, taking you down unnecessary paths and stealing hours upon hours of your precious time. Sometimes, you can find yourself so submerged in all that information that you’ve forgotten what brought you there in the first place. You started out looking for information about what kind of tree you saw and somehow you ended up watching adorable kittens playfully pouncing one another. We laugh about it because it’s true. I think most of us enjoy learning new things. After all, God has instilled this desire within us so that we would seek Him.

Studying the Bible is one of the most important things, as believers, we should do. Held within the very words of the Holy Scriptures is Life itself. However, just like we can get lost on the information highway, sometimes we can get lost in obtaining knowledge about God too. Of course, this can be a good thing, until it gets to a point where knowledge becomes superior to love. If I were able to connect each and every Scripture perfectly and interpret them correctly, but are unable to have compassion for a fellow brother or sister, what use is knowing all of those wonderful things? If I can formulate the most perfect argument and win every debate, but lose the soul, what good is it?

Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8 BSB

As we draw nearer to knowing God, transformation should not only be happening in our understanding of the Scriptures, but also within our heart as well. Such transformation should be bringing about the love of God from within you. This love is then demonstrated by how you treat others.

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, Colossians 1:9-10a BSB

I recommend that you read all of Colossians Chapter 1. What spiritual wisdom and understanding is Paul referring to?

While knowledge is the accumulation of facts, wisdom is the ability to use that knowledge in a way that brings about a good outcome. Spiritual wisdom, in particular, involves using knowledge with insight, patience, and compassion, which reflects God’s love and truth. (James 3:17)

What does Paul mean when he says, “so that you might walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way” ? (An entire article can be written from this question alone. 😊) What fruit are the above Scriptures referring to? Such fruit is clearly explained in the below reference:

52 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 BSB

Notice that the kind of fruit Paul is referring to doesn’t speak of having the ability to solve every mystery held within the Scriptures or to prove yourself right in a debate. He is talking about those things that we cannot possess without first having an intimate relationship with God. Through our intimacy with Jesus, He develops within us a kind of love that is completely selfless. This selfless love is the very nature of who God is and the very reason why Christ died. (And the reason why we need God so very much.)

5 But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked. 1 John 2:5-6 BSB

What does it mean when it says “walk”? By saying walk, it is referring to a continuous journey. It involves making a daily decision to follow God’s path, seeking His guidance and wisdom to grow more aligned with His heart and purpose. And, how did Jesus walk?

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:1-7 BSB

Can you see the love and compassion woven in Paul’s pleading? He’s saying, if you have any love within you, then consider others better than yourself, be like Christ, who humbled Himself and willingly died in complete submission to God for the betterment of others. We are supposed to be servants of God and then likewise, servants to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our walk with God should not only be solely focused on gaining knowledge for ourselves, but also on the building up of others in the faith. I’m not suggesting that we lose ourselves in serving others, but to remember why we are here. Are we only here to gain knowledge just for ourselves? Are we not to also to build one another up? I implore you, what kind of fruit are you bearing?

As a side note, I noticed this beautiful complement Paul gave Timothy. Read this:

19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing. 20 I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs. 21 For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:19-21 BSB

Paul’s deep appreciation for Timothy stems from Timothy’s faithfulness and devotion to Paul’s calling. Timothy’s love for Paul was demonstrated by his continued support and faithful friendship. Paul trusted Timothy so much, that he was sending him in his place to care for their fellow believers. What an honor! The bonded friendship between them had a foundation of love that stemmed from being selfless towards one another. What a beautiful example of the kind of friends we should not only seek, but to become.

5 The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5 BSB

Sincere faith is laden with love. Faith should not exist without love, but it can and often it does. This should not be.

All knowledge will cease and only God and those who love Him will remain. In the end of all things, the ultimate goal that God desires for each of us is for us to become like Jesus.

Jesus possessed all wisdom, faith and love. By looking intently into the Scriptures, you can identify Christ’s love woven throughout. The people Jesus rebuked the most were the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the teachers of the Law. Why do you think that was so? You might say that was due to their lack of faith in Who Jesus was or that they had more faith in their doctrine than in God Himself. I see this, but I am also seeing something deeper. We intellectually know that it is never a good thing to place doctrine over God. In fact, it is not good to put anything over God, including faith, and might I so audaciously say, even the study of the Scriptures.

So, what happened to the Pharisees and the Sadducees? They studied the Scriptures all day long and went through special training. That’s all they knew… the precious Scriptures, and yet, they missed the most important thing in all of life!! Jesus Christ Himself! How can such a thing be possible, that is, for a person to spend that much time researching the Scriptures and miss the entire point of it all? (This should pose to us a warning.)

I think it was in part due to their lack of genuine love, the selfless kind of love that God is. They unraveled the Scriptures and understood things that most of the common people did not, and yet, they possessed no true love for others and so God withheld their ability to see the Truth.

22 But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22 BSB

What is acceptable obedience according to Scripture?

12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. John 15:12-14 BSB

37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 BSB

The Bible shows that love for God leads us to love one another. By obeying what God has commanded, that is, to love your neighbor as yourself, you will walk in perfect faith toward God.

If the only point in studying the Scriptures is to gain understanding of what they mean, then the Pharisees and the Sadducees would have been first in line and the most praised, but that ended up not being the case. They got lost in their search for understanding. They missed the entire point of it all.

Yes, the study of Scripture is wonderful and glorious, but if it does not lead you to a life of selfless love, then the Scriptures themselves will have had no real impact on your heart. And this is the purpose for their existence, to lead you to a Selfless Loving God, so that you may exemplify the very traits Christ possessed. God’s selfless Love is woven throughout the Scriptures from Genesis 1:1 all the way through Revelation 22:21. The whole point of our relationship with God should be based on love, and if this is so, then that love should radiate to those around you. The kind of love that puts Self aside and thinks of others. One that puts agendas aside and reaches out to build up and encourage our fellow believers. Sometimes, people put forth a false sense of selflessness, only to hide their true motive, and such motives are to serve themselves. This should not be.

My friends, let us love one another selflessly. In the end, it really doesn’t matter if you can solve all the mysteries in the world and understand all the deep meanings within the Scriptures, if you do not have love, you have missed the most important thing.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 BSB

7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. 10 And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because He first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well. 1 John 4:7-21 BSB

12 And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. 13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:12-13 BSB

May your studies lead you to the greatest wisdom of all: Selfless Love.