Love's a Many Splendid Thing...

We love pizza, we love politics, and sometimes we love people...or do we? We throw the "L" word around like its a common everyday thing we do. It's just like the Braves losing in the playoffs or a liberal politician flipping pancakes at a breakfast shack... it happens all the time. The tragic reality though is that true love rolls around about as often as Haley's comet. We have hideously cheapened the meaning of this virtue and tragically devastated its value.
Thomas Paine said, "What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods..." In our daily lives we say we "love" so many things without ever giving thought to what it means. Our "loves" are many, and our loves change on a whim. Our "loving" relationships constantly go sour...BUT WHY, if we are such advid lovers does this occur? After all we "love" so many things we should have all the kinks worked out right? Unfortunately, we have replaced the heavenly prototype with our own earthly provision. Our concept of love is based on how "nice" and "sweet" someone else is. We fear being alone so much, that it is no longer important who we are with, just so long as we have someone. We sell ourselves short by settling for a cheap imitation.
Occasionally though true love occurs. In a godly marriage is the pinnacle of love, but more importantly it is symbol of the love of Christ for His church. Though His bride crawls down the aisle dirty and disgusting Christ stands with open arms to recieve His bride. That is the heavenly picture, and its pricetag is great, but its reward is unfathomable.
In our relationships the price of love can be great--it will most certaintly cause others to be angry, frustrated, or completly hostile towards us, but its reward is sweeter. The genuine relationships that result and the lasting lifetime impact that we gain restores love's value and promise heavenly rewards.