“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Earned Love

Every once in awhile, we get a glimpse of the Father’s love for His children by the way we love our own children. The Lord has opened my eyes to a kingdom truth that I’ve known in my head but, before this, had not grasped with my heart.

As a youngster, my eldest son was a compliant child. He would do everything he could to please my husband and me. To him, obedience and compliance were simply “right.” 

Now that he is older, he is angry that his siblings do not come help him in his voluntary jobs around our house and yard. Though we have asked nothing of him, he finds things he thinks need doing, tackling the projects with an out-of-sorts attitude that says, “I’m doing so much work. I hope you appreciate it.” And because he is adopted, he feels he is in our debt for raising him.

Underlying this is the implication that we are unable to get along without him. When my husband and I die, he will feel entitled to a larger share of our property than his siblings receive because he has worked so hard (as portrayed by the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son.) We would rather he only do what we ask, since his “works” make him feel boastful, prideful, superior, and entitled. 

We are sometimes like this with our heavenly Father. We do works, and act like we’re so overburdened and worn out with all that He requires of us, yet He has asked nothing. The works are our own doing. We don’t want to fail God, so we are very busy “doing.”

I’m beginning to understand why our works are as filthy rags to God—it is an offense to Him that we feel we must earn His love. He already loves us, and nothing will change that. When our son comes and does what we’ve asked, this pleases us immensely, and we are thankful; but when he comes and decides on his own what needs to be done, it is as if he is saying, “You can’t handle this without me. I will make the decisions around here.” 

Let’s give ourselves a talking-to. God is able to accomplish His will with or without us. Mortal man is not essential to divinity. God has expressly told us what is required of us: to love Him, and to love our neighbor (Mark 12:29-31)—doing this pleases Him. He can handle the entire universe all by Himself. He makes perfect decisions and needs no counsel. If we give anything to Him, it should not be with the expectation of being repaid; though He gives us everything, He owes us nothing. “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him, and it shall be repaid?” (Romans 11:34-35)

“Father, we can’t earn Your love by our works, for You loved us while we were yet sinners. All that You have is ours already, so we don’t need to earn Your gifts. Lead us into the works You have created for us to walk in, and may we never think You must have our help if Your will is to be done. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”