Do We Really Love God?

 

There is a quote that says:

"You say you love rain, but you use an umbrella when it rains. You say you love the sun, but you seek shade when it shines. You say you love the wind, but you close your windows when it blows. So that's why I'm afraid when you say you love me."

When I read that quote, it made me think about my relationship with God.

We say we love God. We say we believe in Him. We say He is important to us. But can we prove to ourselves that we love Him by looking at what we do for Him each day?

Not what we say. Not what we intend to do. Not what we plan to do tomorrow. What do we actually do?

How is it that the first thing many of us do when we wake up is look at social media? We find time for Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, television shows, sports, games, our careers, our hobbies, and even our physical health.

Yet when it comes to feeding our spirituality and giving God fifteen minutes, suddenly it becomes difficult. We get bored. We lose focus. We read a chapter of scripture and five minutes later we can't remember what we just read. We kneel down to pray and our minds start thinking about work, our schedule, or the hundred other things we need to do that day.

Why is that?

If we truly love God, shouldn't spending time with Him be one of the most important parts of our day?

The good news is that God is not asking us to become perfect overnight. Church leaders have often taught us about becoming 1% better each day.

What does that look like spiritually?

Maybe it means one more sincere prayer. Maybe it means spending ten minutes in the scriptures instead of five. Maybe it means paying closer attention to what we're reading. Maybe it means serving someone, forgiving someone, or repenting a little quicker.

Just 1% better.

Those small things may not seem like much, but that's exactly the lesson taught in the parable of the ten virgins. The wise virgins didn't suddenly become prepared when the bridegroom arrived. They prepared little by little, day after day, drop by drop.

Every prayer is a drop of oil. Every scripture study is a drop of oil. Every act of service is a drop of oil. Every act of obedience is a drop of oil.

Most of the time we don't notice the lamp filling. The changes seem small and almost insignificant. But one day a trial comes. A health problem. A financial struggle. A family crisis. A prayer that seems unanswered. A test of faith.

And when those moments come, the oil we've been adding matters.

Those daily efforts help us stay true to our convictions. They help us hold on to our faith. They help us trust God when we don't understand what He is doing. They help us keep moving forward when life becomes difficult.

The purpose of becoming 1% better isn't just to become more spiritual. It's to prepare ourselves for the day when our faith is tested.

The goal isn't perfection.

The goal is direction.

So maybe the question we should ask ourselves each night is not, "Do I love God?"

Maybe the better question is:

"If I say I love God, what did I do today to prove it to myself?"