September 6
Song of Solomon 1:1-4:16; 2 Corinthians 8:16-24; Psalm 50:1-23; Proverbs 22:22-23
We begin Song of Songs today. It is a book focused on the beauty of marital/romantic love.
We have a tendency as individuals and as a culture to do one of two things with romantic love. The first and predominant view is the Disney perspective. It is to conceive of romance as the pinnacle of love. It is to think that only in a romantic relationship can we find fulfillment and when we enter this relationship, we will live 'happily ever after'. This view finds singleness as an enemy and a wedding as the pinnacle of life. The second perspective is to reject this type of love. Usually due to past heartbreak or abuse, we may see marriage as a form of bondage. God wants our perspective to be a middle ground between these two extremes. He wants us to see the beauty of romance and marriage and like Song of Songs we are to celebrate and enjoy it while also understanding that fulfillment comes only in Christ. No one outside of Jesus can complete us. This is why the image is often used of Jesus as the groom of the church. He is the one who makes us whole, and he is the one with whom we ultimately need union.
Further, romantic love is only one piece of love. God calls us to love him, to love friends, family, and even our enemies. We can see a glimpse of this type of love in 2 Corinthians 8 when Paul describes the love of Titus for the church. The great command is to love God and others, so we should celebrate and enjoy all love that reflects God’s love.
Father God, thank you that you make me complete. Help me not to look to anyone else including my spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, or others to do that which only you can do in my life. Thank you that in you is joy, peace, and contentment. Amen.
Question: How can you shape all of your loves in a way that reflects the character and love of God?
We begin Song of Songs today. It is a book focused on the beauty of marital/romantic love.
We have a tendency as individuals and as a culture to do one of two things with romantic love. The first and predominant view is the Disney perspective. It is to conceive of romance as the pinnacle of love. It is to think that only in a romantic relationship can we find fulfillment and when we enter this relationship, we will live 'happily ever after'. This view finds singleness as an enemy and a wedding as the pinnacle of life. The second perspective is to reject this type of love. Usually due to past heartbreak or abuse, we may see marriage as a form of bondage. God wants our perspective to be a middle ground between these two extremes. He wants us to see the beauty of romance and marriage and like Song of Songs we are to celebrate and enjoy it while also understanding that fulfillment comes only in Christ. No one outside of Jesus can complete us. This is why the image is often used of Jesus as the groom of the church. He is the one who makes us whole, and he is the one with whom we ultimately need union.
Further, romantic love is only one piece of love. God calls us to love him, to love friends, family, and even our enemies. We can see a glimpse of this type of love in 2 Corinthians 8 when Paul describes the love of Titus for the church. The great command is to love God and others, so we should celebrate and enjoy all love that reflects God’s love.
Father God, thank you that you make me complete. Help me not to look to anyone else including my spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, or others to do that which only you can do in my life. Thank you that in you is joy, peace, and contentment. Amen.
Question: How can you shape all of your loves in a way that reflects the character and love of God?
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