We are living as in the “days of Noah (1). Life is going on with little concern for future or eternal issues, in a world dominated by violence and gross immorality. Good is being promoted as evil, and evil is being promoted as good (2), gradually bringing this world to the brink of destruction (3). One of the consequences is that, “…because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love (for others) will become cold (Matt. 24: 12 NASB parenthesis mine).”
There are several different types and definitions of love, but there is only one way of measuring it.
Love is measured by the extent that one will sacrifice oneself for the object of his or her love.
Luke 14: 26 makes it clear where a disciple’s love for God stands in relationship to the love that he or she has for other people, places, and things.
Being able to honestly say I love YOU more than I love ME, would be a real challenge for many. The self-centered, fallen nature within us looks at what “I” can get , and not what “I” can give, in his or her relationship with God, other people, or things.
It is when one does not get, or no longer gets, what he or she wants, that our commitment to our relationship with God, other people, or other things is put to the test.
A born-again believer can not lose the security of his or her eternal relationship with God (4), but he or she can certainly lose the intimate harmony and fellowship that only spiritually mature believers will come to experience.
Nominal Christians, having never experienced such intimacy with God, will malign more mature believers who speak of such things (5).
A Christian without compassion is like an airplane without wings. His or her post salvation spiritual life will never get off the ground, let alone maintain flight, or be used to serve others (6).
One can be so concerned about upsetting others, or the relationship that they share with them, that he or she can be used by the devil to become their enabler or facilitator, contributing to the continuation of sin that needs to be addressed.
The father of the Luke 15 prodigal son did not let his heartfelt compassion cloud his judgment, or his management, of his familial affairs.
There is no record of this father having gone out looking for his wayward son, but he did run out to him and welcomed him back with open arms when he chose to return.
Much to the displeasure of an older sibling, the father provided the returning prodigal son with gifts, and arranged for a feast to celebrate his return.
The prodigal son did not return expecting anything, other than perhaps being hired as one of the laborers (7).
The father did not change the monetary consequences that were the result of the negative choices made by the prodigal son.
The inheritance that had been squandered away was not to be restored.
The elder son would inherit the full estate (8).
Furthermore, the father of the prodigal son did not open his door to any of the ungodly activities that his son had likely embraced while out in the devil’s world.
The father would not become either an enabler or a facilitator by allowing sin under his own roof.
The returning son knew what the house rules were when he left, and that they would not be changed should he choose to return and remain there.
For the sake of the forgiver (9), as well as for the sake of the one to be forgiven, the door of forgiveness should always remain open.
When you love someone, you want what is best for them, even when, at the time, this may not be what they want.
The discipline associated with “tough love” can be just as hard to impose, as it is to receive.
A godly father will be compassionate and merciful, but one that will not compromise with evil. Negligent, absentee, abusive parents, and rebellious, wayward, independent, disrespectful children (young and adult), set the stage for a lifetime of heartache. Children, young and adult, are accountable for the decisions they make, but this does not dismiss the contributing responsibility of the parents, who are called to be compassionate without compromise. (1) Matt. 24: 37-39 (2) Isa. 5: 20 (3) Matt. 24: 22 (4) Rom. 8: 1 (5) Matt. 5: 11 (6) 1Cor. 12: 25 (7) Luke 15: 19 (8) Luke15: 31 (9) Matt. 6: 15