1 John 5:3
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
One of the biggest criticisms that I receive is that I need to preach more about the love of God than about the “do’s” and “don’ts” of the Scriptures. Those who are critical of me would say that my type of preaching is hateful and legalistic. Their criticism is that preaching that exposes sin will not reach those who are lost.
Yet, what is the love of God? If you were to ask the critics, they would say that the love of God is that God loves us no matter what we do, and they are right. They would say that the love of God is that Jesus came to Earth to die for man’s sins, and they are right. Certainly, God’s love is revealed in these acts.
However, who better to define the love of God than God Himself? In the verse above, God shows us the definition of His love. He says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments…” This is interesting, because most people would never say that this is the love of God. This means that someone must tell us His commandments so we can keep them. If the love of God is to keep His commandments, then we must know what they are so we can show His love to the world.
Let me explain why God’s commandments are the love of God. I would not be much of a parent if I didn’t tell my daughter what would hurt her in life. If all I do is to tell my daughter I love her, but don’t tell her what would damage her future or destroy her life, then my love would be suspect. Because I love my daughter, I have told her that drugs are bad, alcohol is a sin, lying is not permitted, cheating will bring punishment, etc. All of these things will bring hurtful results in her life. Because I love her, I tell her what is wrong to keep her from hurt. My commandments for my daughter show my love because they keep her from being hurt.
God is called our Father. If He is our Father, then He must teach us what we can and cannot do to keep us from hurting ourselves. In fact, verse 4 shows us that He gives us His commandments so that we can overcome the world. God, in His love, gave us His Word that is filled with commandments by which to live so that we can overcome the world. His love must reveal His commandments to keep us from hurting ourselves.
I contend that those who don’t teach and preach the commandments of God are those who truly don’t want you to know God’s love. God’s commandments are not grievous to those who obey them because we know what they have kept us from doing. Don’t criticize the preacher who is very precise about God’s commandments, for he is only revealing to you God’s love. The preacher with whom you should be upset is the preacher who does not teach you God’s commandments, for he is hiding God’s love from you.
Let me take this thought one step further. Not only is God’s love revealed in His commandments, but our love for God is revealed in what we think of His commandments and what we do with them. If God’s commandments are grievous to us, then our love for God is shallow. If I love God, then I will keep His commandments as John 14:15 says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Let me ask you, how much do you love God and His love for you? If you complain about people teaching you God’s commandments, then you don’t want God’s love. If you don’t live His commandments, then you don’t love God. God’s commandments reveal His love for you because He not only wants to save you from Hell, but He shows you how to live to save you from the world.