I was reading Taste and See by John Piper. One statement he made on p.44 really struck me.
"The love of God is not God's making much of us, but God's saving us from self-centered sin so that we may enjoy making much of him forever. And our love to others is not our making much of them, but our helping them to find eternal satisfaction in making much of God."
I was reminded about a decision both Bev and I made before we met. We decided that we did not have to get married, but would be satisfied with the fact that we were loved by God and were able to love him.
That decision helped us both not to make an idol of each other when we met. Instead of worshiping each other, we are able to worship God together in an amazing journey he has taken us through.
At a practical level this involves being inclusive of others. Showing them hospitality. Instead of living selfish lives centered on each other, we can reach out to others and love them together.
God is our first love, and our love for each other flows out of that love. God inside of each of us is able to love far more effectively than our little human love can love each other.
My daughter Comfort likes an illustration using a pyramid. The husband is on the left and the wife on the right of a pyramid. God is at the top of the pyramid. The closer the husband and wife get to God(moving up their side of the pyramid toward God), the closer they are to each other.
Loving God helps us be unselfish in relationships, therefore enriching our love for one another.
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