Purpose Behind Our Love

I read today a scripture in the Bible where paul said The more I love you, the less you seem to love me, or something like that. That line really stuck out to me. It is just so contrary to what you would normally expect someone to say.

He had just finished telling the church of corinth that the last time he had visited them, he had been a financial burden to them, and he apologized for that. He said that it was not the responsibility of the child to provide for the parents, but the parents to provide for the child. HE realized that as the teacher it was his responsibility to pour himself into the people he was ministering to.  To give of himself until there was nothing left. To serve them with everything inside of himself. He said the more he did this, the more he loved them, the less love they offered to him in return.

Why does that seem so odd to us. It just illustrates the difference between human love and the love of God. Human love, expects something in return for the love we give-- but the love we find in Christ offers itself freely with no expectation of return or reward. To really have the love of God means to serve willingly, without recognition and without reward. Our purpose is so that others may see Christ. Nothing more.