Love Is Not Self-Seeking
"Incurvatus in se" is a Latin phrase that means, “turned/curved inward on oneself." It is a theological phrase describing a life lived "inward" for oneself rather than "outward" for God and others.
Ever since the fall into sin, Adam and Eve and their children, including you and me have had their eyes and their attention turned to self and not God and others. It’s downright despicable how many of our actions and our words have the final goal of making ourselves feel better, advancing our own agenda or making our life just a little bit better with little regard for who’s affected in the wake. Sin has a way of making us think only about ourselves and our own desires.
That self-seeking attitude Is not love. Jesus shows us that love is not about serving my own interests above others but putting other’s interests above mine. Real love is attentive to other’s needs, trusting that my Father in heaven will take care of me no matter what the situation or how difficult the circumstance. My survival in this world is not dependent on me taking care of myself but on my heavenly Father opening his hand and satisfying all my needs. Jesus exemplified that attitude when he went to the cross for self-seeking sinners like you and me. He put our salvation above his own self-preservation. It cost him his life but he trusted God will and place the care of his soul into his Father’s hands. That selfless love took care of our greatest need, the need for forgiveness. That same selfless love will continue to meet ALL our needs.
When you are touched by Jesus sacrificial love, he opens your eyes to a Father’s love that will never run out. You don’t have to look out for yourself, because your Father in heaven has got you covered. You now, get to look out for others. You get to love like Jesus.
Love is not self-seeking – 1 Corinthians 13:5
This is the sixth devotion in a series on LOVE. See previous devotions HERE.
