Human beings are inherently social creatures, naturally inclined to express love for one another. This universal truth manifests in various ways, as people show love within their families, among friends, and in the broader community. Love, in essence, becomes a transaction—people offer love to gain benefits such as comfort, strength, and emotional support, while also finding fulfillment in being loved in return.
Conditional Love
Those who recognize their reliance on others often practice love to feel secure, whereas individuals who appear self-sufficient and avoid dependence are sometimes perceived as arrogant. At its core, the ability to love others is deeply tied to self-love. The extent to which individuals cherish themselves often dictates the depth and breadth of the love they can extend to others. However, excessive self-love can sometimes hinder the ability to love others, potentially fostering selfishness. Ultimately, with these dynamics ingrained in human nature, love has increasingly become conditional, shaped by personal motives and circumstances.
This defines how human love is often transactional and conditional, shaped by self-interest and the degree of self-love. This same mindset extends to people’s relationship with God. Just as individuals often love others for personal gain—such as comfort, security, or support—they also approach their love for God in a conditional manner. People tend to express devotion to God primarily when their prayers are answered, blessings are received, or healing is experienced.
When these expectations are unmet, however, their love for God can turn into frustration or even hatred, reflecting the conditional nature of their faith. Similarly, those who feel self-sufficient often neglect their relationship with God, as they perceive no need for God’s intervention. Even those who seek God in times of need frequently do so with a focus on personal benefit, holding onto spiritual experiences only as resources for future use.
This is how the human inclination toward conditional love extends not only to interpersonal relationships but also to spiritual connections, emphasizing the pervasive influence of self-interest in shaping love.
Social Justice
The legal system is designed to protect those who rely on the laws of the land, yet it often falls short of delivering true justice. This failure stems from the biases of lawyers, who sometimes exploit the legal system for their own benefit rather than addressing injustice impartially. Such shortcomings can dishearten individuals, causing them to lose faith in social justice and abandon their commitment to it. Activists, who initially strive to promote harmony, may become frustrated by these systemic failures, leading to anger and disillusionment. It is in this context that Jesus cautioned us not to let our love fade, even during times of turmoil and unrest.
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. – Matthew 24:12-13 (NIV)
Unconditional Love
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8 (NIV)
Our deeply ingrained notions of conditional love make it difficult for us to comprehend the boundless, unconditional love of God. We are so accustomed to love being transactional—dependent on mutual benefit—that we struggle to grasp the idea of loving without expectation. Yet, true love cares for others selflessly, and this is the essence of God’s love for us.
If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it. – Psalms 50:12 (NIV)
We cannot offer anything to God that He lacks, nor can we extend Him any favor or assistance. As the Creator of all things, He owns everything and is entirely self-sufficient. Despite knowing our complete inability to benefit Him in any way, God still chooses to love us unconditionally. This truth often eludes mankind, leading many to mistakenly believe that God desires their money, service, or effort to fulfill His purposes. In reality, God has accomplished everything for our salvation through His own works. All He asks of us is to believe in Him and His deeds.
To help us understand this extraordinary love, God commands us to love others unconditionally—even our enemies, from whom we can expect nothing in return. By practicing this kind of love, we begin to mirror God’s nature and gain a glimpse of the depth of His love for us.
The Ultimate Commandment
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ – Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)
Jesus connected our love for God with our love for others, merging these two commandments into a single, inseparable principle. The apostle John expressed this concept even more pointedly, stating that if we do not love our brothers and sisters—those we can see—it is impossible to claim that we love God, whom we cannot see (1 John 4:20). This reasoning is both logical and true, emphasizing the tangible expression of love as evidence of our commitment to God.
Jesus recognized that self-love is innate to human nature, and He called us to extend that same care and consideration to others. To truly live out this commandment, we must learn to empathize with others, putting ourselves in their place, while also recognizing and appreciating the grace of God at work in their lives.
Live Out the Ultimate Commandment
Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of Jehovah tried him. – Psalms 105:19 (ASV)
Joseph never viewed his challenges as trials or punishments from God but patiently awaited the fulfillment of God’s word in his life. Reflecting on how Joseph endured his hardships, despite the devil’s attempts to mislead him, provides valuable insight into loving others as we love ourselves—whether they are family, friends, neighbors, authorities, or even enemies.
Firstly, Joseph never lost faith in God’s promise that his brothers would bow down to him, even after being sold into slavery in a foreign land. Secondly, when imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, he refrained from justifying himself or exposing the false accusations against him. His silence in the face of such injustice might prompt us to question why God didn’t intervene to reveal the truth. Such thinking, however, reveals our limited understanding of God’s unconditional love.
God’s love seeks not to publicly expose every sin to enforce immediate justice but to cover guilt and prepare individuals for the ultimate judgment. By cooperating with God’s purpose, Joseph allowed his master’s wife’s guilt to remain concealed, and in doing so, God poured His grace upon Joseph. Often, we forfeit this grace by demanding immediate justice instead of trusting God’s greater plan.
If we put ourselves in the position of Pharaoh’s wife, we might recognize how, in our frailty, we too might shift blame to protect ourselves. This realization can shift our prayers away from seeking immediate justice and toward asking for God’s grace to endure false accusations and their consequences. By doing so, we not only grow in His grace but also unknowingly fulfill His command to love our neighbors as ourselves, extending compassion even to those who wrong us.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. – Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
Take Away
Many believe that for Joseph to fulfill God’s will in his life, it was necessary for him to endure difficult situations. Similarly, they assume that the challenges they face are designed to fulfill God’s purpose in their lives. However, God does not place us in hardships to accomplish His will. However, we often face accusations and hardships through no fault of our own. God calls us to remain silent and trust Him so that He can bring others into His Kingdom. Jesus exemplified this by staying silent and leading many to His Father’s Kingdom (Isaiah 53:10).
When faced with false accusations, we may find ourselves praying for God’s justice to prevail. Instead of seeking immediate vindication, pause and choose to bear the weight of the offense for a time, creating room for God to work in both lives—the offender’s and the victim’s. In His infinite grace, God can transform the heart of the offender and bring redemption, while guiding the victim toward ultimate victory. When we delight in God and God alone, His spirit filled process leads to a win-win outcome, showcasing the power of grace over retribution.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28 (NIV)
The Jordan Valley 
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