Day 13: A little for you, a little for me

Agape is not self seeking.  Self seeking means self centered, self absorbed, selfish.

I once knew a person who believed no one ever did anything except for selfish reasons.  No one cared about another person unless something was in it for them.  They found a rationale for ever kind deed done; they explained away friends as being friends for what they could gain.

Agape says we are not to be a person who cares for others based on what we can gain.  You do not choose your friends because they provide something you need.  Boast about charity and the charity becomes about you.  Use the charity to gain power and again the charity is about you.  Same thing with friendship and love.  Choose your friends because they are popular and make you look popular there is no love there.  Choose your friends because they have things and the friendship is about you.

We are to love with unselfish love.  We are to love those from whom we can not expect anything in return.

^{Luke 6:32} “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. ³⁶ Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

We are not suppose to love those who are wealthy more or less than we love those who are poor.  There are situations where people show more kindness to someone who has a great deal of wealth hoping to gain in some manner.  But there are also people who practice a different type of bias.  They hate those who have a great deal and only care for those who have less financially. James 2:8-9 tells us we are to love others as our self; to show favoritism is a sin.

Agape love seeks what is best for others; it does not seek what is best for itself.  Periodically we should look at our relationships.  Do we seek those from who we can gain, or do we treat all people the same?