Love Versus Fear

Be on your Guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love (1Cor 16:13)

It’s interesting that God doesn’t want our actions or deeds to be motivated by fear but by love.

Indeed,

…God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

What causes fear anyway? Isn’t it hostile circumstances whether physical, financial, social or spiritual in our day to day life? Threatening circumstances in the various areas of life affects our ability to see and judge clearly and if we are not sure that indeed God loves us and is watching over us, its easy for us to stumble, fall or beat a hasty retreat in fear. 

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

Whereas fear is a natural response when we face danger and it’s alright sometimes, beyond certain degrees, fear becomes unhealthy, a stronghold in our mind that the enemy uses to deter our progress in life or sabotage our dreams. Anything we do motivated by fear is never well evaluated and will rarely yield the desired fruit. 

God recommends love as the antidote for fear because he knows that fear will cause us to act irrationally but love will firmly settle our hearts to act appropriately whatever the circumstances. Love not only makes the right diagnosis of a situation but also gives the right prescription. I believe its love that will keep us alert, firm in the faith and stir courage in us. As Paul quips

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  ³⁶ As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."  ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

Loving God is thus opening the doors of our hearts for His love to flow and rid us of the negative consequences of fear to experience the fullness of God (Eph 3:17-19).

John recommends that our love be directed to God alone.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15  

The writer of Hebrews points at our love for money as a robber of confidence in God. He says;

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  ⁶ So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

(Hebrews 13:5-6). 

Fear testifies that our hearts are not settled in God, love envisions God saying; "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  

If you have been afraid lately what you need is not courage but some regular dosage of love. Love is the active ingredient that boosts courage in our lives so that we can be strong and be men of courage. However if our love reservoir is depleted little challenges are magnified beyond reality, ant hills become great mountains that we think are impossible to conquer. We face life with doubt and are a depressed lot. A shadow in the dark causes us to quake in fear.

Let love be

The motivation

The energy,

That keeps you moving

Talking, preaching, meeting others

And letting go of others

Let love be.

Let love be

In response

In staying, in going

The ingredient of every kind act

Every word said to others

Let love be

The power that keeps

The power that guards

In submission and absolute trust

Reliably daily

Let love be.

Let love be

In your hearing

Your talk and walk

Even when you have to run

Swift enough in hearing

Slow in speaking.

Let love be

Let love be

The language you speak

Demonstrating daily

The quality of your life

In speech and deed

            Quietly but audibly

              Let love be.