Love may go unrequited; but it is never wasted. The nature of biblical love is often misunderstood—viewed on the level of the hopeless romantic—measured by feeling rather than substance. But, love is inherently an extension of ourselves to others—a decision to seek another’s best interests. Love is not just a bubbly, feel-good, purring cat softly rubbing against the face feeling. Love is real. Love gets dirty. Love is willing to be inconvenienced. Love waits while another’s needs are first met. Love is the “more excellent way” Paul describes in the context of how God’s people should treat one another in the local congregation (1 Cor. 12:31; 13:4-7). We would do well to develop these traits in every aspect of our daily lives.
If love is never wasted, then why do we, at times, feel discouraged about how people respond to our love? In some cases, it might be because our love has not yet risen above that which is extended only to those who can love us in return. Jesus identified this as the kind of love commonly practiced in the world around us (Mt. 5:46-47). However, Jesus calls us to a higher love, challenging us to love even those who do not love us in return (Mt. 5:43-45).
Other times we get discouraged about unrequited love because we have lost sight of things unseen. Though love may appear to go unnoticed or unappreciated, it may yet have a lasting, cumulative effect on the heart of the one to whom we have shown such love. Sometimes, love is felt as an after-the-event experience (Rev. 14:13). The full impact of our love may not be felt during our lifetime. But we must press on remembering that “God is not so unjust so as to forget your work and the love which have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints” (Heb. 6:10). In a sense, love is a treasure sent on to heaven before us (Mt. 6:20-21). We show our love by obeying His commandments including the one which says to “love one another, just as I have loved you” (Jn. 14:15; 15:12).
Love is risky business. There is always the possibility of rejection. This is what happened when Christ came into this world (Isa. 53:3). Sadly, we are often unwilling to risk rejection for the sake of those we love. As a result, some friends may face eternity never having been given opportunity to hear the truth of the gospel. Others will never hear needed correction because we have misunderstood the loving nature of discipline (Heb. 12:6). Who knows but what that difficult conversation, seasoned with prayer, may turn out to be a lifeline to the soul of a friend? Even if we are rejected, we have shown true love for God, His word, and our friend. Love is never wasted.
–Glen Elliott–