Love In Action – Time And Treasures

Last week we started on a line of thought about the 5 love languages. Have you ever heard about them? The idea that we all have five general ways that we express and experience love, was first introduced by the Ph.D. author, speaker, and counsellor Dr. Gary Chapman. His book The Five Love Languages, which was written in 1992, names the five as; words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, receiving gifts and physical touch. Not everyone communicates love in the same way, similarly, we all have different ways we prefer to receive love. It is said that of the five, we generally have one primary love language which is supported by one or two others. Recently talking about my love languages, I got to thinking and realised that God embodies all five love languages. Last week we saw how He expresses and receives love through words of affirmation and acts of service. Today we will explore receiving gifts and quality time.

Do you love receiving gifts? Do you take pleasure in buying thoughtful gifts for those you love? If your answer is yes then your love language could very well be receiving gifts. You most probably place a high value on the gift-giving process. You take pleasure in their careful planning and thoughtful selection of the perfect object to represent the relationship. You enjoy being gifted something that is both physical and meaningful. Nothing beats the emotions you feel when receiving such a gift from your loved one. If your love language is quality time, then you feel most adored when your loved one actively wants to spend time with you. Active listening, eye contact, and undivided attention without the distraction of TV, phones, or any other outside interference are huge for you. You have a strong desire to actively spend time with your significant other, having meaningful conversations and making memories doing fun activities.

Does God take pleasure in receiving our gifts of love and honour? Does it excite Him to lavish us with gifts of His love? Does our Heavenly Father desire to spend time with those He loves? The Bible is clear that the answer to these questions is a resounding yes.

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” ~ James 1:17 (NLT)

God takes pleasure in expressing love through the giving and receiving of gifts. I’ve heard people brag, saying, “I’m a good gift giver.” And though this may be true for many, none is a better gift giver than God. The very fact that we are alive to see today is a thoughtful and deliberate gift from our Heavenly Father. Think about everything good in your life, everything you would term as perfect. Yep, that was a gift from God. Along with all those things, God did something that I think is special. God put gifts, both physical and spiritual, on the inside of each of us so that we could then bless and give to others. See what He did there. His creation of you and me is the gift that keeps on giving. I am not a gift person and while I do appreciate a good gift, I’m also alright going without. I don’t know about you but the few times I have received amazing gifts from a loved one, as in legendary gifts, I feel the urge to reciprocate the gesture. This is a natural response that God wired into our mechanics.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” ~ Romans 12:1 (ESV)

The Passion Translation puts it this way:

“Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvellous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.”

Giving ourselves to God as a gift in return for all His marvellous gifts is indeed the proper and most reasonable response. Making good use of the gifts He has given us is also a way of truly honouring and appreciating Him and all He has done for us.

God does indeed receive and show love through quality time. When it comes to spending time together, I think this love language is foundational for the growth of any relationship. Yes, I know, some people require more quality time than others. Then again, if we completely removed time together, wouldn’t the relationship become dispensable? I think it’s safe to say that any of us would feel hurt and neglected by a loved one who seemed too busy or uninterested to spend time with us anymore. The same can be said for our relationship with God.

“O my people, listen to the words of the Lord! Have I been like a desert to Israel? Have I been to them a land of darkness? Why then do my people say, ‘At last we are free from God? We don’t need Him anymore!’ Does a young woman forget her jewellery, or a bride her wedding dress? Yet for years on end, my people have forgotten me.” ~Jeremiah 2:31-32 (NLT)

“So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine. “I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branch. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless.” ~John 15:4-5 (TPT)

Spending quality, uninterrupted time with God fills the love tank on both sides and allows our relationship to grow and flourish. Though God doesn’t need us in the way we need Him, He enjoys just being with us. TV off, phones away, no distractions, just us and Him. The finished work of our Lord Jesus on the cross was for far more than a ticket into heaven. God wanted us and knew we needed him so badly that He rearranged heaven and earth to win us back.

See how practical the love of God is. Most times it is easy for us to assume that the feelings and rituals of love only apply to marriage, family or dear friends. We forget that in being made in the image of God, many of His attributes are in us. How we feel and why we feel can all be traced back to God. Though corrupted by sin, when we allow Him to work in our hearts, we begin to correctly reflect Him. I hope this challenges you to become more purposeful in your relationship with your Heavenly Father. As you practice showing up, spending time with Him and giving of yourself to Him, I also hope you are inspired to relate better with those in your life whom you have identified as gifts or quality time people.