Luke 7
42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?
Jesus was invited to dine at the house of a certain Pharisee, named Simon. While they were eating, a woman entered, who was a known prostitute. She stooped at the feet of Jesus, weeping, and wiped His feet with her hair. She also had a jar of costly perfume which she poured on Jesus’ feet. When Simon criticised Jesus in his heart, Jesus knew his thoughts and told him the story of the two debtors. The one owed £500 and the other £50. When they could not pay, the creditor freely forgave them both. Jesus then asked Simon who of the two would love him the most, and Simon correctly answered, “the one he forgave most.”
Then Jesus, pointing to the woman, who was known for her promiscuity, said to Simon, “her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
The crucial importance of loving Jesus is emphasised throughout the Bible. For instance it says in 1Cor 16:22, If anyone loves not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be ‘anathema’ – cursed. This is a terrible word of judgment.
Jesus, after His resurrection also asked Peter, “do you love Me more than these?”. The Lord was speaking about a Godly, “Agape” love, not just a filial love towards a close friend.
We are all competing in a race, where only one wins the prize. In the letter to the Corinthians Paul said that we have to run to be first. Who runs to be second or third? Spiritually too, we can never give God our second best.
This is a spiritual lesson to all Christians. This is how we ought to live and believe. It is sad that Christians often look for excuses to be luke-warm; they look at others and then serve Him in just the same way. No, your life and love should be more on fire for Jesus “more than these”; more than anything else in the world.
Jesus said that if you love wife, husband, children, parents, possessions or career more than Him, you cannot be His disciple. This is the Gospel and the life of a Christian: Jesus first!
You need to test your love towards Jesus. Do you love Jesus with godly, sacrificial love or do you only love Him only as a friend who can be ignored at times? (To some God is like a spare wheel who is convenient when there are problems but ignored for the rest of the journey.) When the going gets tough and you’re tempted, do you then desert Him? When things go well and you prosper, do you still earnestly desire Him and love Him with all your heart?
How does one get this love?
To see Jesus on the Cross for you; murdered because of the awfulness of your sin, you will understand more about the greatness of forgiveness. When you have truly seen Jesus suffering and dying for your own sin, for which you should have died, then you will love Him with agape love, repent of your sin and never return to it. Then you will love all people and desire their salvation too. Then you will not only mix with the important people, but equally love the weak and poor. Jesus will take the least, weakest, lowest in your eyes, and judge you according to your love for that person; for you cannot love Him more than your love for the least. Whatever you’ve done to the least, you’ve done to Him.
This must be our aim. If this is not your aim, then you’re certainly on your way to hell. Have you seen your sin in God’s light? You might still joke about your sin but the day you see your sin as God sees it, it will bring godly sorrow and repentance. When Paul saw his sin, he cried, “I persecuted the church of God. I’m the chief of sinners”. He never again returned to his sin.
God, through His Holy Spirit has poured out His abundant love onto His people. Test and see if you’re really part of His people and have His love towards Christ and those around you!