Goal of Love

Article Written by Pastor Phil Bray

​            “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Tim 1:5). The objective of preaching, teaching, and writing is not a mere increase in head knowledge. Increasing intellectual knowledge is necessary, but more as a means to an end, rather than the end in and of itself. What is the end goal then? Love. 

            The goal of all teaching is a transformed life, a life that loves like Jesus. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35). Preaching, teaching, and writing ministries should produce change in people’s lives so that they love God and one another as Jesus did. The more God is revealed through the communication of the Scripture the more our hearts will be drawn up into Him. 

            Love is the goal. Love is displayed in Jesus, who gave Himself up for us (1 John 4:7-10), who died to demonstrate God’s love for us (Rom 5:8). Love is concern for, and commitment to the well being of others, to the extent that you sacrifice yourself in order to do them good. Good should be happening in ever increasing streams across the life of the congregation as they sit underneath the ministry of God’s Word. Those who love are patient, kind, not jealous, not prideful or arrogant, unselfish, and refuse to hold grudges. Those who love actively do what is good for those around them, even though it costs them personally. They consider others more important than themselves and leverage their own lives to do good to those around them, rather than leveraging other’s lives to do good for themselves. 

            This type of activity is produced through the ongoing transformation that occurs by means of the communication of God’s word. Love flows from a pure heart, a heart undivided and undefiled by wicked desire. Love flows from a good conscience that is not conflicted with guilt and shame. Love flows from a sincere faith, an unwavering confidence in Jesus, that He is enough and all that I need for gladness. Love flows from a heart transformed by the gospel of Christ, from a heart that is learning how to do all that Jesus commanded as a disciple or follower of Jesus. 
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            Following Jesus results in a transformed life. Attending church and submitting to the regular preaching and teaching of the word is not merely for education spiritually. Our faith involves knowledge but knowledge as a means to the end of a life of love. The goal of our instruction is a congregation of people continually increasing in love for God and one another. As you study, listen, learn, read, and understand your delight in God will increase and thus your delight in God’s ways. Your love for God will morph into love for one another. The goal is love, not just more numbers and more knowledge.