Baptist City Blog

I'm in Love

Genesis 29:18

"And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter."

The love that Jacob had for Rachel was certainly a love to copy. Often when you hear someone say, "I'm in love," you wonder if they truly understand what love is all about. Many times teenagers will think they are in love with someone, but they found out after a few months that the one whom they thought they loved is not the true love of their life. In this love story between Jacob and Rachel, you find some attributes of true love.

First, love works for it's object. Jacob worked fourteen years for the opportunity to marry Rachel, and you don't see him complaining at all about what he had to do. The reason being is because love doesn't expect something for nothing. True love is willing to work and do whatever it takes to please the one whom their love is placed upon.

Second, love serves others and not itself. It is interesting that Jacob was willing to serve others because he loved Rachel. I find that many times people who say they love someone only have their own agenda in mind. True love is never interested in itself and what it gets. In fact, true love is satisfied if it gets nothing, as long as the needs of the one whom it is placed upon has their needs met. The marriage that is filled with love is a marriage where both husband and wife live to meet the needs of each other. They are not selfish, but rather they live to serve the other.

Third, love is willing to wait. Jacob was willing to wait a total of fourteen years to marry Rachel. Love doesn't quit because it doesn't get what it wants immediately. Love will wait for what is right because it doesn't want to hurt the one whom it is placed upon. If a young person truly loves someone, then they will wait for marriage to enjoy the pleasures of marriage. If a person is not willing to wait, then they don't truly love the one whom they say they love.

Fourth, love won't stop when it is spurned. In verse 28, you find that Jacob was deceived by Laban, and yet he still kept loving Rachel. Anytime you love someone, you will find at times that your love will seem to be spurned. However, if you truly love them, then your love won't give up on them. How many times have we spurned God, and yet He still loves us. Yes, love will be spurned, but when it is it won't stop loving.

Finally, love is flexible. Jacob was willing to be flexible for the one whom he loved. When you love someone, you will be flexible in order to get along. I'm not saying you will compromise, but you will be willing to give up your wishes for each other. Love is rigid on truth, but it is flexible on preference.

Christian, these attributes of love will be evident with whomever it is you love. Whether it is a parent/child relationship, pastor/church member relationship, boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, husband/wife relationship, etc., love will always hold these attributes. Work on these areas with the ones you love. You will find that your love will grow as you improve in each of these areas.