You can argue with me but try on the words of Jesus, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt 6:21). Now, I don't mean to imply that money can buy you love. What is certain is that to truly give, you must sacrifice something of true worth. What is your most precious commodity (Money, time, pride, self)? If you say that you love someone, yet are unwilling to sacrifice your own time and self interests for the benefit of the other, your words carry no truth. Love is not a second hand emotion. It's "more than a feeling" as the song goes. Real love is active giving and sacrifice.
Consider King David when he needed to build an altar and offer sacrifices to God. A local farmer, Ornan, offered to give to him everything he needed for the sacrifice; but David refused to accept without payment, saying he would not give to God "that which costs me nothing" (I Chronicles 21:24). An imperfect yet wise man, David was a great lover of God.
To a man that has a million dollars in the bank, a dozen roses is not much of a sacrifice. But to that same successful business man, time is a commodity he can not afford to take, excuse me, give lightly. To him a day away from the office spent with family may be a tremendous sacrifice and given joyfully is a gift of great value.
The greatest lover of all is in fact the greatest giver, the most sacrificial giver. He gave The Cross of Jesus Christ. God Himself sacrificed His Son that we might be forgiven and reconciled to a right relationship with Him. All of this, He did just to express how deeply He loves you and me. God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8 NAS)...
Though His death was much more than an example, we can learn from His example of sacrificial giving to express our love for another. "Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men... He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of dearth, even death on a cross." (Phil 2:4-8 NAS) ...the gift of God is eternal life...(Romans 6:23 NKJ)
It was the ultimate sacrifice, the ultimate price. Count the cost of His gift and see His deep love for you. He is the Greatest Lover...and you are His beloved.
By Ben Young and Toni Richmond
Co-hosts of the Single Connection Radio Show
Article From February 2000 Issue of Excitment magazine
Sacrificial, giving-up love, is love that is willing to go to any lengths to provide for the well-being of the beloved.
Romancing The Home by Dr. Ed Young (p. 68)
Enduring love involves an unselfish commitment to your lover's happiness....when you find that your lover's needs and desire's are as important to you as your own, genuine love is being born.
Finding the Love of Your Life by Neil Clark Warren (p 97)
The gospel says that we, who are God's beloved created a cosmic crisis (our sin and separation from God) ...and that He launched the greatest campaign in the history of the world to get us back...to recapture our hearts...He conceived the most daring of plans...
The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge (p 91)
On Giving - This quality is not about giving material gifts, but, rather, the capacity for selfless behavior Giving means putting others first. A giver gets outside of himself and gives to you rather than always seeking to get from you.
The Ten Commandments of Dating by Ben Young and Dr Sam Adams (p 162)