I don’t want your love
Most people say they love God or have love for Him. But what kind of love do most people have? Because there are many kinds of love. What do you mean? Let’s take a look.
As we’ve already discussed, there are many kinds of love: paternal, maternal, fraternal, filial, conjugal, and even animal love—just to name a few. Thus, people speak of love in the sense of affection or of possession and desire. But there is true love, which does not seek its own interests. And this does not come from the human heart or the earthly realm, but from the Father of lights.
This otherworldly love has been given to everyone, but not everyone wants it. This is because it has been confused with the feelings they already possess, and it is viewed as a one-way street; that is, it comes from God, and people think that no one needs to do anything to receive or possess this love, when, in truth, it must be cultivated, practiced, and preserved.
The love that God requires of human beings is, first and foremost, obedience to Him, by keeping His commandments, which are His love. From this derives all other forms of love, such as brotherly, spousal, and filial love. For if God’s love is not at work within a person, all other forms of love are nothing more than childish feelings.
Therefore, God’s law contains the first part of our love for Him, which corresponds to obedience to the first four commandments of the Decalogue. Next come the remaining six commandments, which concern one’s neighbor. They are ordered beginning with honoring one’s parents, placing them on the same level as the Creator in terms of obedience; this is why, when a man approached Jesus asking which was the first and greatest commandment—or what one must do to inherit eternal life—He first referred to love for God, and then to love for one’s neighbor.
Thus, God does not want a love based on mere feelings of affection, but rather the love He conveys through the Bible, which corresponds to His law or commandments—the Ten Commandments. This is His love. John 15:9b and 10.
Oli Prestes
Missionary
As we’ve already discussed, there are many kinds of love: paternal, maternal, fraternal, filial, conjugal, and even animal love—just to name a few. Thus, people speak of love in the sense of affection or of possession and desire. But there is true love, which does not seek its own interests. And this does not come from the human heart or the earthly realm, but from the Father of lights.
This otherworldly love has been given to everyone, but not everyone wants it. This is because it has been confused with the feelings they already possess, and it is viewed as a one-way street; that is, it comes from God, and people think that no one needs to do anything to receive or possess this love, when, in truth, it must be cultivated, practiced, and preserved.
The love that God requires of human beings is, first and foremost, obedience to Him, by keeping His commandments, which are His love. From this derives all other forms of love, such as brotherly, spousal, and filial love. For if God’s love is not at work within a person, all other forms of love are nothing more than childish feelings.
Therefore, God’s law contains the first part of our love for Him, which corresponds to obedience to the first four commandments of the Decalogue. Next come the remaining six commandments, which concern one’s neighbor. They are ordered beginning with honoring one’s parents, placing them on the same level as the Creator in terms of obedience; this is why, when a man approached Jesus asking which was the first and greatest commandment—or what one must do to inherit eternal life—He first referred to love for God, and then to love for one’s neighbor.
Thus, God does not want a love based on mere feelings of affection, but rather the love He conveys through the Bible, which corresponds to His law or commandments—the Ten Commandments. This is His love. John 15:9b and 10.
Oli Prestes
Missionary
oliprest
Enviado por oliprest em 02/10/2026
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