God Our HIghest Love!

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

and who hope is the LORD.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious

In the years of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7–9

            This Scripture is plain and clear; to be blessed you must trust in the LORD and have your hope in the LORD. For God alone is to be enjoyed. There is a second side to this: “Thus says the LORD; ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited’”(Jeremiah 17:5–6). Why is this so true? Jeremiah under inspiration gives us the answer: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it” (Jeremiah 17:9). It is the heart that is at question here for in the heart man devises many things and many of things are contrary to God’s word, but God does not look upon man as man looks upon man: “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:10). It is true then, that between everything, among all that we encounter in this life, there is only are that which is eternal and unchangeable are true objects of enjoyment. Don’t we enjoy other things? Yes! gut there is that which is to be used which is of the highest enjoyment and those thins which are used so that we may be able to arrive at the form enjoyment, there we do use and enjoy other things are also one of those things. Is not man made after the image and similitude of God? (Genesis 1:26). Made after God’s image not in respect of the mortal body which we are clothed, rather in respect of the rational soul by which we are exalted in honor above all animals, in fact above all things; (Genesis 1:28–30. The question that may be asked is whether men ought to enjoy or use themselves or do both? We are commanded to love one another, but is man to be loved by man for his won sake, or for the sake of something else? IN this world it is taught, in schools, in universities, even in some Churches, that we are to love ourselves as though we are the highest objects that deserve to be loved, by ourselves. When man loves himself for his own sake then our enjoyment then consists in a happy life, yet this is not reality. This hope of a happy life is allusive and demands that we seek this happiness that is in things, things which we are to use not solely for enjoyment, for our comfort in our present time. When we put our trust in man then we run afoul of God’s pronouncement not to put our trust in man for therein is a curse. Our hope and our eternal life, not in hope of man but in hope of God. It is our heart that must be right and to have its enjoyment in God alone as our highest object of enjoyment, the One who deserves us, not part of us, our devotion, and our worship. Trusting in us, man, is a fool’s wish: “He who trusts in his won heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered” (Proverbs 28:26).

            Are we not to love ourselves? Yes! And this love is to be found in this formula: “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39). True love then is that which is love of God and this with our whole heart, then by means of that love we can love our neighbors. In fact, with this love in our heart, that is, placing God as our highest enjoyment, then we will use all other objects correctly. This is true for we love other things, even ourselves because we love Him for the sake of Him. Man is never in such a good state as we traverse this life towards the unchangeable life set for God’s children and there is where are to be fixed in our hearts and minds. If we do not do so then we would love ourselves for ourselves, for our own sake, and this will turn our attention from god, our relation towards God will be incomplete; damaged. When this occurs then we cannot fully enjoy even ourselves for our minds will be fixed on things for more than use, for enjoyment and upon those things will man become enwrapped, enjoyment for things that are perishing, for things that cannot bring with certainty enjoyment. Wherever your heart finds enjoyment then that enjoyment becomes the priority for your life, therefore if you want enjoyment of things, in this life then your enjoyment must be in Who you should love: God! No part of your life should be occupied  as to not leave room for God.

            There is the answer: God is the object of our love. Things are to be used and enjoyed in relation to our love of God. Turn your whole current of love towards God, and allow that love to be the love you give to your wife, your children, your friends, and which determines how much love, we give to things, that is, how much enjoyment those things should have so that they do not drown out love of God. Do not be diverted from God’s love, a love for His children, a love that even gives to the wicked food, clothing, things, sun, rain, etc. for God’s love is given to all and His love that is singly directed to His children, which is a love that gives His children eternal life.

When I consider Your heavens,

The work of Your fingers,

The moon and the stars,

Which You have ordained,

What is man that you are mindful of him,

            And the son of man that You

Visit him?

                        Psalm 8: 3–4

Make God The Object Of Your Love!

Richard L. Crumb