Today’s
Scripture Reading (December 4, 2018): Deuteronomy 11
In 1995, Gary Chapman released his book “The Five Love Languages.” In the
book, Chapman hypothesizes that each of us has
a primary and a secondary language by which we understand love. And that there
are only five languages, or five ways that love can be communicated to us. The first language is “Words of
Affirmation.” We understand love because our significant other compliments us
in some way, or verbally encourages us. For these people, if love is not spoken, then love does not exist.
A second language is “Quality Time.” We understand that we are loved
because our significant other can push
everything else aside and simply be with
us. A walk with them loves them, just as
they are loved by time spent together just
talking with no other interruptions. The act of being together is incredibly
important in the way that some people understand love. The third love language
is “Receiving Gifts.” Gifts are tangible, they can be held in hand, and they are proof that “He (or she) was
thinking of me” even when we are apart. Of all of the love languages, becoming
a giver of gifts might be the easiest to learn.
The fourth love language is “Acts of Service.” I will show you that I love you by taking
care of something that needs to be done,
and something that your significant other wants done.
Cooking a meal or vacuuming the house are both examples of love expressed
through “Acts of Service.” And finally, the last love language is “Physical
Touch.” We have long understood the importance of being touched at all stages
of our life. But what we lose in our culture is that there is an importance in
non-sexual touch that helps us to understand that we are loved. Sexual touch is
easy and almost innate in our culture, but sometimes it is the non-sexual touch that gets lost in our
relationships. All touch becomes sexual, and in the end, we are weakened by that
reality.
As I read through the books of Moses, I think that God’s primary love
language might be “Acts of Service.” Repeatedly we read words similar to those
expressed here in this passage. “Love the Lord your God and keep his
requirements” (Deuteronomy 11:1a) or “to obey is better than sacrifice, and to
heed is better than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). The idea seems to be
that if you love me, then you will take care of the things that I have asked you to do.
But
we need to understand the other side of the instruction. The things that I
(God) have asked of you are not random
actions. These actions will strengthen you and guide you into a positive
future. I don’t want you to be a selfish
people, existing only for yourselves. I want you to understand how to love me and
love each other, strengthening you as you move through the stages of life. Do
this, and your future will be unlimited.
God’s
message seems clear; If you love me, honor me with your acts of service, and I
guarantee that tomorrow will be a better place.
Tomorrow’s Scripture
Reading: Deuteronomy 12
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