Perfection
God is perfect in the attributes He has selected for Himself. If you think about power, by nature of who He is, God is the most powerful being ever...otherwise, He would not be God. The same is true of love. Since He has selected love as one of His attributes, He is the most loving being ever. Generosity is also one of the attributes He has chosen for Himself:
Luke 6:38 Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands—all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.”
When perfect love and perfect generosity cross paths in a parents heart, an immature kid probably won't see either attribute well! My kids think they know what they want, but often, love prevents me from fulfilling their every desire.
God is no different. His display of generosity is measured in order to create the best for us. He is like the wealthy parent who wants to make sure their kid isn't hurt, or spoiled, by wealth. Perfect love requires that God's generosity must be measured to draw out the traits in me that will serve me long-term.
God longs to lavish true wealth on us, as well as meet the material needs we have...but true love means that He wants to prepare us for the most success over the duration of our existence.
In my immaturity, I want to be completely comfortable now, but God's wisdom shows that complete comfort now will cost me some good part of my character later on. He wants me to grow in my knowledge of Him, and to agree with Him about what is good. He sees me in a million years, and is producing character traits that will take me far beyond the future I can see...the question is, do I REALLY believe I will live forever? If I do, then I would desperately want His long-term best and not a short sighted comfort now that will cost me some part of my eternal journey! He is a good Father who knows exactly what He is doing...my life is much more peaceful and powerful when I remember that His goodness determines what He allows into my life, and not the other way around!
Luke 6:38 Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands—all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.”
When perfect love and perfect generosity cross paths in a parents heart, an immature kid probably won't see either attribute well! My kids think they know what they want, but often, love prevents me from fulfilling their every desire.
God is no different. His display of generosity is measured in order to create the best for us. He is like the wealthy parent who wants to make sure their kid isn't hurt, or spoiled, by wealth. Perfect love requires that God's generosity must be measured to draw out the traits in me that will serve me long-term.
God longs to lavish true wealth on us, as well as meet the material needs we have...but true love means that He wants to prepare us for the most success over the duration of our existence.
In my immaturity, I want to be completely comfortable now, but God's wisdom shows that complete comfort now will cost me some good part of my character later on. He wants me to grow in my knowledge of Him, and to agree with Him about what is good. He sees me in a million years, and is producing character traits that will take me far beyond the future I can see...the question is, do I REALLY believe I will live forever? If I do, then I would desperately want His long-term best and not a short sighted comfort now that will cost me some part of my eternal journey! He is a good Father who knows exactly what He is doing...my life is much more peaceful and powerful when I remember that His goodness determines what He allows into my life, and not the other way around!
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