Heroes do extraordinary things for people in need. Things that protect people, relieve them of pain, or give them what they need. In this sense, heroes are outstandingly helpful. Sometimes they even sacrifice themselves. But, is that really love? Because don’t you want more than help when you’re looking for love?
Thinking about this question, I came across the statement that even if I “surrender my body to the flames,” but don’t have love, then I am nothing. It is from the New Testament (1 Cor. 13).
Those are humbling words and they have been haunting me for a few days. Because they tell me that sacrificing myself for someone is a worthless thing to do, if my heart is empty of love for that person. No matter how extraordinary I am in other departments of my personality, love is the only thing that counts.
But if heroic sacrifice isn’t love, then what is love? Dallas Willard reflects on that New Testament statement and tells me love is “the posture of benefiting others in the ordinary relations of ordinary life.” (Knowing Christ Today, 88.)
In other words, I love others when I do small things for them, on a regular basis, and simply because I love them. Not because I have detected a need in them, or because they have asked for my help. Love is pure that way. It is only real if it comes straight out of my heart, without any calculations on my part.
I am interested in your thoughts about this. Because it makes me think that it is difficult for us to know when our love is pure. People have all kind of needs, so how can we know what we do for them is done out of love? How do we know a heroic act is done out of a heart that loves?
To put it a little differently: When is it that heroes love?
Related posts:
(Photo: Compound Eye on flickr)
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I basically think it is impossible to know what is going in another person’s heart. I don’t know what is going on in my own heart, so how should I know what is going on in other peoples’ hearts? It is too confusing when you want to analyze the heart. Acts count more than internal feelings.
What-If. Rigth! That is part of my problem with this idea, too. It is difficult, if not possible, to be honest about oneself and what is happening in one’s heart. I think that maybe we’re too close to ourselves to see ourselves objectively and clearly. We need help with that.
Who do you think would be the best helper for someone who wants to figure out what’s happening in themselves, internally? A friend? A parent? A lover? God? All of the above?