It has been said that people cannot live on love, that love won’t pay the bills. I say that you cannot live without it. Now I am not talking about what the world calls love, the scriptures tell us that “men are lovers of self, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God”. (2 Tim. 3:1-5) I am talking about those to whom the “love of God is shed abroad in their hearts,” those who love Christ because Christ first loved them.

It is love that causes men and women to get up every day and go to work to provide a comfortable home, food and clothing to see that the ones they love have the best they can provide. Love seeks the best for those they love. Where there is love it will do without itself to give to those whom they love. It is love that causes parents to discipline their children and to instruct them in the truths of Gods word.

What but love would make men and women come to hear a man tell them that their “righteousness is as filthy rag“, and tell them they have no works or worth to commend them to God? It is love that causes sinners to deny themselves, causes them to lay no claim to anything in themselves and to find that Christ is all their righteousness. It is love that makes souls count everything they were and all they did before in religion as dung.

What but love would cause men and women to bring their hard-earned money and give it to support the ministry of their assembly, to support one another and give to those in need?

People say you can’t live on love, but I say you can’t live without it. Our Lord said “By this shall all know you are my disciples, if you love one another”. (Jn. 13:35).