4:24 – Who’s Winning?

#faithbites #faithjourney winning

Setting

I have to admit, I like numbers. Who is the oldest, youngest, richest, smartest, whatever? Sometimes I just google to google and learn strange facts. All of these facts and figures help me share the world with others. That is fun for me.

I have to admit, I have kept score in love. I’ve kept score on who has wronged me and who I’ve wronged. This has lead to resentment. This Sunday’s sermon was about Love not keeping score. I thank our Pastor for sharing God’s word.

I have to admit that I don’t want to keep score. My goal is to forget and let go of all of the times I have been wronged by others. If I can do this, then I won’t resent.

Without beating a dead horse, keeping score in love only hurts everyone involved.

Today’s question: Are you keeping score in love? Are you ready to let it go so you can truly love one another.

Scripture

• 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
• 1 Peter 3:9 – Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Reflection

What does keeping score look like? Do you know how many times someone stole from you? What about the times that someone broke a promise to you? We have talked about asking forgiveness for wrongs you have done. This isn’t that, this is forgiving others and letting it go. This also isn’t about being a doormat and sometimes you have to forgive and leave.

As I’m writing this, I think about what keeping score has meant to me? 1 Peter shows it clearly. Insults, grumpiness, and lost opportunities are how I repay someone who has wronged me. A perfect example, there are times I’ve told my daughter I don’t want to play with her because she’s been yelling at me. Part of that is a consequence, but if I’m honest, the part is retribution for hurting me. In this case, we need to balance consequences for actions AND realize if we are doing it keep score.

How do we measure winning if we aren’t keeping score? There is one way: Love! Are we loving as much as possible? Are we holding back our love because someone has wronged us? If we can say yes we are loving no matter what, then we are winning. When we fail, we ask for forgiveness and try again. Jesus doesn’t keep score on the number of times we’ve failed and asked forgiveness. So neither should we!

Go out and love!

Prayer

Father God, we are often hurt by others and we hurt them. We know that you want us to live in love and communion with one another. We know it’s not easy to do. Help us not to keep score on who has hurt us and who we’ve hurt. Let us instead just love no matter what. Give us the strength to walk away when needed and when we are in the situation to love no matter what.

Lord, we ask you to forgive us for keeping score for those who have hurt us. Please Lord, remove those wrongs from our hearts so that we can love truly as you do. When we fail, we ask you to forgive us. The only way we can win is through you and through love. We pray all of this in your name, Amen.