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GOD'S HIERARCHY OF LOVE
by linzy bruno 
2/15/2023 / Bible Studies
It takes us years to see things sometimes that were always there in front of our faces. When we think of all the heartache we could have foregone, if only we knew about God’s Hierarchy of Love…..
Growing up, we aren’t taught that romantic love can get out of bounds when lovers feel a closer attachment to one another than they do to God; elevating their lovers to the point of worship. We see instances of this all around us and this type of love is promoted through all sorts of media. And regardless of marital status; obsessive and/infatuated relationships, do often go awry. Nonetheless, it has to be to the extreme for most of us to see it as obsession.
We even see these sorts of relationships as healthy. “Oh they’re so happy!” we exclaim, when in all actuality they are headed for disaster and heartbreak, inasmuch as we human beings cannot live up to the pinnacle of perfection.
Furthermore, when we take a closer look at human romance, it becomes clear that God is protecting us by being our source of worship. Perhaps that’s why the Bible depicts Jesus as the Only One Who is worthy of such adoration.
Marriage is supposed to be a picture of our relationship with God, through Christ. A husband’s love for his wife is supposed to reflect Christ’s Love for the church, and a wife’s love for her husband represents her love for Christ. See Ephesians 5:25-33.
Through the descriptive verses that follow, and many others not listed here, we can see the clear picture of God’s Hierarchy of love, which He has Ordained for humankind, as a model and an example for how we ought to live a healthy and satisfying life.
We’ve all known from our own experience or that of others how devastating it can when a dysfunctional relationship suddenly ends. This can even lead to violence if the people involved are obsessed to that degree with one another. If we describe our lover as “our everything” and claim that we cannot live without him/her, our relationship is out of bounds; for the only one we should put into that position of worship (the highest form of love and obedience) is our Lord God and Savior, our King Jesus.
This hierarchy is so beneficial when followed, as God knows us much better than we know ourselves, as He Created us and knows ALL.
Interestingly, the Bible does depict our relationship with God through Christ in a romantic sense. We are to be passionate in our relationship with Him; on fire for Him, which indicates that we cannot love Him too much. With Him, obsession is not even possible. The more time we spend with Him, the better off we are. But if we try to do that with people, we become emotionally and spiritually unhealthy because we are putting a person in the place of GOD. And only God can be God in our lives if we are to live a healthy and balanced life.
Romantic and Passionate Language in the Word of God:
The Marriage Supper of The Lamb in Heaven: Revelation 19:7-9
He is our First Love: Revelation 2:4 & Matthew 22:37-38
Hearts on fire for Him,whether in joy or anguish: Jeremiah 29:13, Psalm 39:3 & Matthew 22:37
Bride/Groom: Revelation 19:7-9 & Isaiah 61:10
God is Jealous: 2Corinthians 11:2 & Exodus 34:14
Even marital love has limits in God’s Economy, however, marital love is the closest thing we can experience to the powerful love God imputes in His children for Him. His Word Commands that we love Him with all our hearts, all our strength and all of our minds, Furthermore, His Word says that we are to love one another, as we love ourselves, as Jesus instructs in Matthew 22:39 & John 13:34, and as we read in Leviticus 19:18. So, although we love our spouses with all our hearts and ought to; our love for God ought to surpass any human love and any and all emotional attachments to human beings.
We are to love God, then others and ourselves; whether friends or enemies. If we love husbands, wives, children, any of our family and/or friends/lovers more than we love God, we are living out of balance and our affections are out of bounds:
“And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”
But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8:20-21)
And God’s Word does inform us that we are also to love our enemies; even though feeling loving toward them with love may be difficult, love is an action and therefore reigns nonetheless, if we abide in the love of the Lord as Jesus explains in Matthew 5:43-48.
God Declares the Enormity of His Love for us in John 3:16, 1John 4:7-11, Isaiah 54:10 & Romans 5:8.
He defines love through the Apostle Paul in 1Corinthians 13:4-8 and that He imputes His Immense Love into us for Him in Romans 5:5, 12:1-21 & John 14:21.
And Paul describes our love for one another in Romans 13:8-10.
And as for things, money and materialism, pets and all else, Jesus warned that we not love these things at all:
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1John 2:15-17)
This Then Is God’s Hierarchy of Love:
#1--LOVE GOD!
#2--Love people as ourselves; putting them before ourselves:
“fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” (Philippians 2:2-3) Also see 1Corinthians 13:1-3
#3--Deal sensibly and without attachment to all else……
NKJV
It takes us years to see things sometimes that were always there in front of our faces. When we think of all the heartache we could have forgone, if only we knew about God’s Hierarchy of Love…..
Growing up, we aren’t taught that romantic love can get out of bounds when lovers feel a closer attachment to one another than they do to God; elevating their lovers to the point of worship. We see instances of this all around us and this type of love is promoted through all sorts of media. And regardless of marital status; obsessive and/infatuated relationships, do often go awry. Nonetheless, it has to be to the extreme for most of us to see it as obsession.
We even see these sorts of relationships as healthy. “Oh they’re so happy!” we exclaim, when in all actuality they are headed for disaster and heartbreak, inasmuch as we human beings cannot live up to the pinnacle of perfection.
Furthermore, when we take a closer look at human romance, it becomes clear that God is protecting us by being our source of worship. Perhaps that’s why the Bible depicts Jesus as the Only One Who is worthy of such adoration.
Marriage is supposed to be a picture of our relationship with God, through Christ. A husband’s love for his wife is supposed to reflect Christ’s Love for the church, and a wife’s love for her husband represents her love for Christ. See Ephesians 5:25-33.
Through the descriptive verses that follow, and many others not listed here, we can see the clear picture of God’s Hierarchy of love, which He has Ordained for humankind, as a model and an example for how we ought to live a healthy and satisfying life.
We’ve all known from our own experience or that of others how devastating it can when a dysfunctional relationship suddenly ends. This can even lead to violence if the people involved are obsessed to that degree with one another. If we describe our lover as “our everything” and claim that we cannot live without him/her, our relationship is out of bounds; for the only one we should put into that position of worship (the highest form of love and obedience) is our Lord God and Savior, our King Jesus.
This hierarchy is so beneficial when followed, as God knows us much better than we know ourselves, as He Created us and knows ALL.
Interestingly, the Bible does depict our relationship with God through Christ in a romantic sense. We are to be passionate in our relationship with Him; on fire for Him, which indicates that we cannot love Him too much. With Him, obsession is not even possible. The more time we spend with Him, the better off we are. But if we try to do that with people, we become emotionally and spiritually unhealthy because we are putting a person in the place of GOD. And only God can be God in our lives if we are to live a healthy and balanced life.
Romantic and Passionate Language in the Word of God:
The Marriage Supper of The Lamb in Heaven: Revelation 19:7-9
He is our First Love: Revelation 2:4 & Matthew 22:37-38
Hearts on fire for Him,whether in joy or anguish: Jeremiah 29:13, Psalm 39:3 & Matthew 22:37
Bride/Groom: Revelation 19:7-9 & Isaiah 61:10
God is Jealous: 2Corinthians 11:2 & Exodus 34:14
Even marital love has limits in God’s Economy, however, marital love is the closest thing we can experience to the powerful love God imputes in His children for Him. His Word Commands that we love Him with all our hearts, all our strength and all of our minds, Furthermore, His Word says that we are to love one another, as we love ourselves, as Jesus instructs in Matthew 22:39 & John 13:34, and as we read in Leviticus 19:18. So, although we love our spouses with all our hearts and ought to; our love for God ought to surpass any human love and any and all emotional attachments to human beings.
We are to love God, then others and ourselves; whether friends or enemies. If we love husbands, wives, children, any of our family and/or friends/lovers more than we love God, we are living out of balance and our affections are out of bounds:
“And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”
But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8:20-21)
And God’s Word does inform us that we are also to love our enemies; even though feeling loving toward them with love may be difficult, love is an action and therefore reigns nonetheless, if we abide in the love of the Lord as Jesus explains in Matthew 5:43-48.
God Declares the Enormity of His Love for us in John 3:16, 1John 4:7-11, Isaiah 54:10 & Romans 5:8.
He defines love through the Apostle Paul in 1Corinthians 13:4-8 and that He imputes His Immense Love into us for Him in Romans 5:5, 12:1-21 & John 14:21.
And Paul describes our love for one another in Romans 13:8-10.
And as for things, money and materialism, pets and all else, Jesus warned that we not love these things at all:
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1John 2:15-17)
This Then Is God’s Hierarchy of Love:
#1--LOVE GOD!
#2--Love people as ourselves; putting them before ourselves:
“fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” (Philippians 2:2-3) Also see 1Corinthians 13:1-3
#3--Deal sensibly and without attachment to all else……
NKJV
Linzy is a certified Bible Counsellor, with countless republications on her viewers blogs, Bible Studies, Ezines and the like. Her portfolio includes, non-fiction articles, short stories for all ages, and Christian poetry.
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