Selfish or Selfless Love?

 “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God [agape’ love] has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” 

(Romans 5:5, NKJV). 

It has often been said among Christian circles that “love” is an action verb, and so it should be. Love is not something we just glibly say to someone we claim to love; we show our love to that person by our actions. Love without action is nothing more than a dead term. It is useless. There are many in our society today who are dying in want of love. Christians who claim to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour are in the best position to show “the love of God” to their neighbors. 

However, the question arises then in what our underlying reason is for showing love towards others? Is it for personal gain, or is it genuinely for God’s glory and the benefit of the person we show our love to? Is our love “selfish” or “selfless?” 

1. Selfish love may well benefit others, but its real motive is to draw attention to the giver. Its depth is a shallow kind of love where the giver expects something in return. In other words “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” This kind of love is not the love of God.

2. Selfless love is the kind of love that seeks to bless others without expecting anything in return. It also does not place any conditions on the one it bestows its blessing on; for this kind of love is unconditional. It does not choose any favorites, nor does it erect any fences as barriers in loving others. It even seeks to show love towards enemies, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44, NKJV)