Love Is A Gift

Love Is a Gift

The Young Bride

Read: Song of Songs 8:7

Backing out of the driveway, Mara glanced down at the box beside her—the biggest chocolate assortment the gourmet shop offered. She had already sent roses and made dinner reservations. Why do I even bother? Mara wondered. Nothing she did ever seemed quite good enough for her mom—not her career choice, the way she raised her kids, or even her hairstyle. After months of counseling, Mara finally understood why she pushed herself so hard. She was still trying to earn the one thing she craved most—her mother’s approval. “No more!” Mara shouted, as her right hand ripped the cellophane from the box of chocolates.

Mara did not experience love as the young woman in Song of Songs did. As she praised her relationship with her husband, the young wife pointed out that love cannot be bought at any price. Even if people tried to purchase love with all the wealth they owned, their offer would be scorned. The woman knew that the love between her and her husband was a priceless gift that they willingly shared with each other.

Sometimes women find themselves in relationships in which they feel compelled to keep striving to earn someone’s approval. If we could just look better or cook better, get smarter or work harder, then maybe our parent/sibling/boyfriend/husband would love us. But in these relationships, the problem is with the other person’s emotional development, not our performance.

Many people think of God’s love as performance based, but nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus died for our sins simply because he loves us, not because we deserve it. Salvation is offered to us as a gift, and once we accept that gift, there is nothing we can do to make God love us more. His love can’t be bought—not with good deeds and not with gourmet chocolates.

It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)