The differences between human love and God’s love

JULY 11
1 John 2:15 – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does
not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are
tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

Characteristics of human Love Characteristics of God’s Love

It is selfish and gain based Sacrificial

It has strings and expects something in return No strings attached

It is conditional It is unconditional

It could partial and unholy Holy

It is sensual Spiritual

Gives to get Gives to be a blessing

Could be offended and may stop when not appreciated Continues against all odds

Expects returns from recipients Expects returns from God

Go to limited length to help other Go to every length possible to help others

When disappointed totally discouraged May be disappointed but never discouraged

The human love is limited to natural abilities but with God’s love you will surpass your human ability.

1. God’s love for us is unconditional—God does not love us based on merit. We can never be good enough to
earn God’s favor, nor can we ever be bad enough to diminish his love. He loved us first (1 John 4:19) and will
never stop.
2. God’s love for us is Sacrificial—God loves us so much that he sent his Son to die on our behalf (John 3:16).
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). God’s love is not focused on what he gets but on
what he gives.
3. God’s love is enduring—No matter what happens, nothing can separate us from God’s love. Paul tells fellow
believers, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are
present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to
separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39).