Prove the Sincerity of Your Love....

 What is it that stirs, stimulates, and inspires us to take action? Is it a desire for distinction, prestige, or the nature of the need? Could it be we are driven by professionalism, reputation, or to sustain a certain image? What about heroism or courage? Perhaps it is humanitarianism or old fashion kindness that moves us to share ourselves, time, and substance with another. Can we know our love is sincere—free of any pretense? Paul identifies just three specific motivations that often fuel followers of our Lord Jesus. Certainly there are other high impetuses such as hope, faith, and God’s glory, but here he writes,

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9, For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

The actions of our hands are rightly tethered to the motives of our hearts. We well understand our motives and actions matter greatly to God. On the one hand, we can simply act on a command out of respect, obligation, and a pure sense of responsibility. In another scenario, we may strictly follow the very good examples of worthy models who have done right and well in the eyes of the Lord. Still yet, we might possibly take action because our hearts are genuinely filled with the love of God. “Sincerity” (2 Cor. 8:8) uncompromisingly demands harmony between the heart and hands! Anything else is a form of pretense—a kind of hypocrisy.

Clearly these motives are not mutually exclusive; of the three options (duty, example, and love), love is the highest. Accordingly, note the essential nature of this higher impulse and what distinguishes agape-love from the others. This love is “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 8:9). While it is true that love moved our Lord to leave the excellent glories of Heaven, become a man, live as a servant, persist penniless, and suffer through Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Golgotha (Rom. 5:8); this love is a form of “grace” towards us undeserving sinners (2 Cor. 8:9). In our passage this “grace” is demonstrated through literally giving Himself entirely, selflessly, and sacrificially for our spiritual welfare. Calvary is the most extravagant and epic form of generosity to ever walk across the stage of history (John 3:16)! Who then can justifiably withhold anything from Christ Jesus?

We too can give of ourselves out of pure obligation, to follow worthy examples, or out of this holy sacrificial love. This brand of love exemplified and exercised by our Lord is portrayed in the Word as one of the highest motivations for Believers (1 Cor. 13:13).  Agape-love is characteristically selfless, sacrificial, unconditional, generous, serving, and transforming. Such love could only be inspired in us by the Lord Jesus Christ who is most gracious! It is a substantial undertaking then “to prove the sincerity of your love.”