Unconditional Love?
As I walked by my two dogs this morning on the way to get my first cup of coffee, I was reminded of what people say about dogs; that they show unconditional love. Now quite a few of you that read my blog know my dog Smiley, and you know how loving he is to others. He is as close to unconditional love as I know, and after a couple of swallows of coffee I began to think about love. I don’t know why my mind works the way it does, but I begin to ponder the definition of unconditional love. We all seem to want it. It seems to be this grandiose platform that if you reach it then life will be good. Everyone longs to be loved deeply in their soul, but is this desire for unconditional love real? I don’t think it is!
If you think dogs show love unconditionally start kicking your dog every time you walk by it, or better yet don’t feed him. I promise over time you will see his love is conditional. He needs food, shelter and water to survive and you must provide that for him. It is conditional. What about the love of a mom for a newborn? I have seen babies crying that couldn’t be soothed, put the best of mom’s into a state of frantic anxiety. I think we long for unconditional love, but it is impossible. We should be looking for greater love.
Is God’s love unconditional? I have believed it is most of my life, but now I don’t even believe that this is true. He watched His son die on the cross for us. I don’t know about you, but that is a huge condition. It cost Him something big time. If conditions are placed on either party then the love is conditional. You see love is about living with conditions (boundaries). It is about sacrificing for others that you love. If you want to learn how to love well, which should be the point of love, follow the lead of Jesus.
“Greater Love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”
The next time someone tells you they want unconditional love. Tell them to give their life away. Love is conditional, but the model for great love is Jesus Christ.
I would love to hear your feedback!!!
Seeing through the Eyes of the Heart 
Bible “agape” love DOES have conditions…1 Corinthians 13:4-7…and God is love soo this is a description of Gods character
You lost me on the scripture reference Eric. Check it please and explain.
I think that at the end of the day, our words to express Gods love for us pale in comparison to his reality. Perhaps the word ‘conditional’ is not the best choice of words–If God himself created and met a set of requirements, but fully expressed his love from within those requirements, then it would seem his love is somehow being deminished.
But I believe his expression of love extended beyond and engulfed those requirements, which both fulfilled and eliminated the need for them. So that now, we can experience the full expression of his love, without boundaries or requirements–and as we experience a growing capacity to live in that love–we grow in our capacity to extend that love to others–not as a requirement or condition–but similarly overwhelming any perceived requirements with the vastness of that love.
If there are boundaries–then like the ocean or the universe–they extend farther than our minds can comprehend or fathom. We can live in this vastness–and that, is the only condition–it’s the state of being in which his love exists.
Nice to have you at the party! That is why I called it Greater Love. It is greater than our understanding, because there are few people in this world that truly lay down their lives for their friends. And this is just the tip of the iceberg! Love you brother!
Yep, I love oxygen, toilet paper, sharp pencils, etc… you see love has become a vast word in today’s world. The unconditional Love that is mentioned In Biblical terms to me means that look in your child’s eyes after you have had to correct them (spanking, grounding) and they know you did not want too but that is your job as a parent and you only do it because you LOVE them. You know I call him my Heavenly Farther and I have been spanked plenty of times but still have that look in my eyes. Yep, I think when the Lord watched his Son die on the cross he was well pleased with his Son’s unconditional Love.
But his love was not unconditional. He dies. The real truth is His love is greater love. Greater than we can possibly understand being human. You are dead on CHuck about how we have watered down the word love. I think we are the one’s who cause most of the spankings. He is just trying to protect us from consequences. Love you man!
But God knew he was not going to stay dead but is to be raised Alive so He knew before hand that he was not loosing his son forever. Yet like you stated before we are not to know all.
Chuck, go watch the Passion again. You will see what I mean when I say it was conditional. I force myself to watch that movie at least once a month to remind me of the humiliation, pain, suffering He endured for us all.
i dont think anyone has that amount of love after all we are not god and still learning xxjen
I know I am still learning Jenny! Thanks for the read.