Hey guys,
Another great discussion! I love your topic this week - very close to my heart. Just a couple of thoughts...

I've found that there's one kind of joy even greater than loving and serving someone selflessly - for me it's discovering that I've actually been a tool in God's hand in the course of that loving and serving...part of His work in the life of someone either personally, or through the work of His church. It's the most amazing and exhilarating feeling to discover it was God's plan all along, and that He let me be part of it! It's not really about us, but about His love for all of us, right?

One nuance to what you were saying about loving neighbor AS our selves....I can't say it's absolutely the meaning of the passage, but in my understanding it also means AS WELL as our selves. Do we have equal love and concern for the well being of others as we have for our selves (and by extension, our own family)?

I think God does give us the first responsibility for physical and spiritual well being of our children and spouse. But what does it mean when we get beyond the basic needs?

If we put our own desires and betterment, and that of our family, above the most important needs (I'm thinking spiritual as well as basics for human life) of the people around us, is that pleasing to God? Is our own family's lifestyle, education, financial comfort...more important than the salvation, security, and basic health of our neigbors, in God's eyes?

I am very troubled by the mindset I see so often, that our own families are somehow more important to God, and to His Church, than those of the people around us. That our own benefits from the church are more important than extending them to our neighbors who are outside the "family".

I am reminded of scripture's description of God's great joy when a new believer comes to faith, and to Jesus' words to the rich young man about selling all he had to give to the poor or to his new disciples about leaving behind family to follow Him in His work. I don't think He wants us to abandon our own families, but I think it says a lot about His priorities for us and for the Body of Christ.

If we are putting our own comfort/benefits, and that of our family, right after love of God and before love of neighbor, isn't that almost a form of idolatry? Jesus said to love God with all our heart, mind, strengh...and that loving our neighbor AS ourselves was actually "like it" - or part of that? There are so many families who place their children above ALL others...is that pleasing to God?

Let me confess....I'm as guilty as anyone about spoiling my kids and grandkids. I love seeing them flourish, and I love the joy of providing something for them that blesses them in some way. I've even had them correct me on this..to get my priorities back in place.

I'd like to challenge us to be just as passionate about loving our neighbors as we are about loving and blessing our own kids. Perhaps this will help us see where we fall short of truly loving our neighbor AS ourselves.

Hey Matt,
I loved your reminder for spouses to express love to each other. As any wife will say quickly, actions speak louder than words!

I gotta brag a little on my hubby of 39 years. Yesterday he got up an hour early, at 6 am, just to get the dinner dishes done that we were both too tired to do the night before. He had made me a really wonderful dinner that evening, with LOTS of pots, pans, dishes and mess! He knew I was worried about them because of my busy schedule the next morning.

I loved that he made me that great dinner, but I loved even more to see how much he loved me the next morning by dealing with something he knew concerned me. I felt SO loved and so thankful, all over again, that God had blessed me with this good husband!

I took a group of youth to Orlando last summer to attend the National LCMS youth gathering and one of the speakers there (I SWEAR it was you, Dion, but whatever) had something to say about Biblical suffering that has really resonated with me ever since and it came to mind again when you guys talked about this.

The text was 1 Peter 4, I believe, but the topic was on Biblical suffering. And the speaker (the more I think about it, the more I swear it was you, Dion) basically said this. Biblical suffering doesn't simply mean facing trials and experiencing pain, loss, and strife. Nor does it simply mean putting yourself last. Suffering, in the Biblical sense, means facing trials and experiencing pain, loss, and/or strife, in a way that benefits someone else.

That's the difference between a martyr and someone with a death wish. And it's the difference between Jesus as the savior and Jesus as some poor guy in the wrong place at the wrong time. And I think this speaks to the idea you guys mentioned that loving your neighbor should be painful at times. And the joy that we experience is the same joy that Jesus had regarding His suffering.

I try to live by this as much as possible. However, at times, I use it rather selfishly. If I'm suffering I try to hold it up to this standard and see how it looks. Does what I'm going through have some benefit to offer someone else? If not, I try to look for a way out of it.

In short, we should joy in suffering, but only when that suffering brings about some good for someone else. And Jesus showed us the depth of His love by suffering tremendously to bring about the greatest good for the entire world. Now THAT'S love!

Is this the last episode? Any more SAP to come?