If I obey God even though I don’t want to, is that proof that I love God?
Question:
Good day,
When I do something because it's a commandment from God, and even if I don't want to, is that not proof that I love God? So there are things I don't like to do but because I love God I do it anyway. And on the other hand, there are things difficult to let go of, which are sinful, but because I love God I keep on trying. Thus, the very thing I do is not love, but obedience to whom I love. And the motivation for what I do is my love for God although I might not like doing it, and that is how I grow in God's ways.
The reason I put it like this is that I'd always heard that if you don't do it with love, it means nothing and there was always something that didn't make sense. Is the first part right?
Answer:
"Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome" (I John 5:1-3).
"'He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.' Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, 'Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me'" (John 14:21-24).
The love being spoken of is not a feeling but a decision made because of devotion to the one loved. Because of my love for my wife and family, I may make choices that I personally don't prefer, but it is best for the ones I love. In the same way, because of my love for God, I will do what God tells me regardless of my personal preferences in the matter. It is not the feeling but putting another person's will or need before your own that is love.
