Do you remember the first time you fell in love with your spouse, not puppy love, but real love? Can you remember how you felt when you were saved and how exhilarating it was?

Love is such a beautiful and powerful thing, but it’s also something that can be misunderstood and misused if we’re not careful. So, let’s explore what healthy love looks like, what unhealthy love looks like, and how we can reflect God’s unconditional love in our relationships.

Healthy love is characterized by mutual respect, trust, and support. It’s about lifting each other up, encouraging growth, and cherishing one another’s uniqueness. Unhealthy love, on the other hand, may involve manipulation, control, or possessiveness. It can leave us feeling drained, stifled, or even trapped.

Scripture paints a vivid picture of God’s perfect love. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, it says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

God’s love is the ultimate example of unconditional, sacrificial love. It’s a love that knows no bounds, that never gives up, and that is freely given to all who seek it. Throughout Scripture, we see countless examples of God’s love in action, from His redemption of Israel to His ultimate sacrifice of sending His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins (John 3:16).

Can we love someone too much or too little? Well, it’s possible to become so consumed with love that we neglect other important aspects of life or that we become overly dependent on others for our own happiness. On the flip side, failing to show love or withholding love can lead to feelings of isolation, resentment, or bitterness.

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to become complacent in our love for God and others? We might start off strong, full of passion and excitement, but over time, we can slip into a routine where we forget to actively demonstrate our love through our actions and words.

When we become complacent in our love for God and others, it can lead to a lack of intimacy and connection in our relationships. We might take our loved ones for granted or neglect to prioritize spending quality time with them, using words of affirmation and neglecting the other love languages such as physical touch, act of service and giving gifts. Similarly, in our relationship with God, complacency can result in a lukewarm faith and a distance from His presence.

Solomon is a good example of someone who was deeply in love with God but then drifted away. He began his reign as king with a deep passion for serving God and a desire to lead his people in righteousness. He sought wisdom from God and was granted great favor and blessings (1 Kings 3:5-14).

However, as time passed, Solomon began to drift from his initial fervor for God. He accumulated wealth and indulged in worldly pleasures, taking many wives and concubines, some of whom led him astray to worship foreign gods (1 Kings 11:1-8). Solomon’s heart became divided, and he turned away from the Lord to follow after idols.

The results of Solomon’s complacency and drift from God were devastating. God became angry with Solomon and warned him of the consequences of his disobedience. As punishment, God declared that the kingdom would be torn from Solomon’s descendants, and his reign would be marked by turmoil and strife (1 Kings 11:9-13).

Despite starting with a heart devoted to God, Solomon’s gradual drift into complacency and worldly pursuits led to a decline in his relationship with God and ultimately brought about negative consequences for himself and his kingdom.

This serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of becoming complacent in our love for God and drifting from our initial passion for serving Him. It emphasizes the importance of staying steadfast in our faith, continually seeking intimacy with God, and guarding against the lure of worldly distractions that can lead us astray.

So, how can we reignite the flame of love in our relationships, both with God and with others? It starts with a conscious effort to prioritize love and to actively demonstrate it through our actions and words. Through introspection of your day, weeks and month, evaluate what is consuming your time and distracting you from God and those you love and make an effort to stop doing those things. Just as we were once excited about our love for God and others, we can recapture that passion by intentionally pursuing deeper intimacy and connection in our relationships.

As we reflect on the topic of love, let’s remember that God’s love is the perfect example for us to follow. Let’s strive to love others with the same selfless, unconditional love that He has shown us. And let’s never become complacent in our love, but instead, let’s continually seek to deepen our relationships and show our love through our actions and words.