Paul Was Grieved: Loving Those Who Don't Love Back
"Some people honor us, but others shame us. Some people say good things about us, but others say bad things. Some people say we are liars, but we speak the truth." — 2 Corinthians 6:8 (ERV)
Paul wrote 2 Corinthians chapter 6 to encourage the Corinthians to follow his teaching — but beneath that encouragement lay deep grief. Many in Corinth believed Paul lacked the authority to speak as he did about God, and that insinuation cut deep.
Let that sink in for a moment. Paul loved the people of Corinth and worked hard to present himself as a worthy witness to the Gospel. He faithfully and tirelessly taught and cared for them. In return, the people doubted him and his authority to teach them. The bottom line — they didn't believe in him. Imagine what it must have been like for Paul to work and love so hard, to sacrifice so much, for a people who didn't trust or believe in him. I don't know about you, but I would have been devastated. Like Paul, I would have been grieved.
Can you relate to Paul's situation — loving someone deeply, trying hard to bless them, only to have them not believe in you? How would you respond? How did Paul respond?
To see how Paul responded, let me draw your attention to verse 12: "Our feelings of love for you have not stopped. It is you who have stopped your feelings of love for us" (2 Corinthians 6:12, ERV). How did Paul respond? He continued to love. Despite the people of Corinth not believing in him and withholding their love, Paul kept loving. That's sacrificial love. Paul understood that loving people who don't love you back is one of the most Christlike things you can do.
I want to be clear about something. I am not implying that you should remain in unhealthy, abusive relationships. Having struggled with codependent relationships in my distant past, I know what it's like to justify staying in a bad relationship. That's not what this post is about. Paul, through his deep, intimate relationship with the Lord, discerned the Lord's will for him to keep pushing into these relationships to share the Gospel. Without that conviction, it's perfectly acceptable — and encouraged — to move on from an unhealthy relationship.
Big Idea
Love that quits when it isn't returned was never truly sacrificial to begin with.
Questions to Ponder
Is this resonating with you in a particular way about a situation in your life? If so, what's your takeaway? I asked earlier how you would respond to Paul's situation. Then I shared how Paul responded. Does hearing about his response change how you would respond? Why is it so hard to love as Paul did after experiencing such rejection? How do you think Paul managed it?
Application
Think of someone in your life who has been hard to love — someone who hasn't returned your care, effort, or affection. Ask the Lord to show you whether He's calling you to keep loving that person, and if so, what that looks like. Then take one step this week — a text, a prayer, or an act of kindness — not because they've earned it, but because that's what love does.
Before the Lord — a daily devotional by Blake S. Crawford. Read more and subscribe free at blakescrawford.com/before-the-lord.