Can we Love God with no Strings Attached?
Father Peter Jae Choi
Just the other day, while I was watching a video of Father Mike Schmidt interviewing Bishop Robert Barron, there was one question Bishop asked that really caught my attention. I had to pause the video to think about it.
I’m paraphrasing it, but it goes something like this; have you ever asked yourself these questions?
- Do you love the benefits, or do you love your spouse?
- Do you love for what’s good in it, or do you love your spouse for her own sake?
- Do you love the benefits, or do you love the person?
Abraham didn’t say, “I love God because he’s given me family, children, and lands – because God has blessed me”. Because what if God took away everything he had, like the Book of Job? So, we are left with the question, do you love God, or do you love the benefits of God?
Because what if you were stripped of everything? Would you still love God if he took away every earthly comfort and blessing? So, can you love God, not because of what he can give you, but just for the sake of loving him?
