10 Myths for Why God Loves Us

God and Adam

Before becoming Christian you could often hear me say that I was a good person. My Modus Operandi was to work hard, volunteer some of my time and treat others with respect. You know, do a little bit of karma. I wasn’t concerned with why God loves us. I was a good person, by my standards, and that was enough.

Imagine my shock and disagreement when a close friend told me that God didn’t care about whether I was a good or bad person. And that God loved me just as I am. Everything I thought I knew had nothing to do with why God loves us. This might be shocking to know. But the truth is that He really doesn’t care about the good things we do. It’s not like He needs our willingness and abilities to get stuff done. He is God after all.

Here’s my list of myths for why God loves us. Whether you’re a believer or not, you might be able to resonate with some.

1) I am a good person. I do good things.

2) I obey the Bible. Ok, I obey most of the Bible. Points for trying?

3) I give (volunteer) my time to help others.enjoy journey with God

4) I am better than that other person

5) I am saved by grace

6) I love God

7) I attend Church

8) I tithe

9) I read my bible

10) I pray

These misconceptions get ingrained in us from a young age. Maybe it’s because every god from mythology required humans to earn their love. And it was usually only the smartest, strongest, prettiest and bravest that earned their love. I’m a big fan of Greek mythology. I love the stories of Odysseus and Achilles. I’ve watched the movie Troy numerous times. Some of you might remember the 90’s TV movie The Odyssey. But let’s be real. Do we really want to have to earn love? It can’t be done.

You know, there is one way to know when someone loves you. It’s when they’ve accepted all your quirks and faults. 1 John 1:19 says that God loved us first regardless of all that. It says, “We love because He first loved us.”

We can argue with that all we want. But the bottom line is that we’re better off being loved unconditionally. Imagine how you’d like your relationships with others to be. Do you want it to be based off of what you do for them? Would you want to have to do a list of good things to earn their love? Now imagine they’re trying to do the same thing. You’ll both get nowhere.

So let’s keep it simple and just accept that we’re better off not having to earn God’s love. Don’t buy into the myths of why God loves us. Salvation is free.

What’s your Modus Operandi? Got any myths you’d like to share?

Fun fact: Karma is not a Christian belief. Karma means you get what you deserved and salvation by grace is the exact opposite of that.

Featured Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/_sound/

2nd Photo by http://dribbble.com/jasonquiz

Comments

  1. Really insightful article! The list is some I can easily take to my own prayer time and reflect on ways I’m trying to earn Gods love.

  2. I agree that God loves you no matter who you are or what you do. It’s a lot like the criminals on the cross. They were saved before death, it shows that no matter who you are there is always hope.

  3. God’s undying love for us is truly remarkable!

  4. Myths for why God loves us? I had to read it! Hahaha, Good stuff my friend. Iv never really wonder why God loves me. I don’t think it really matters why. God is Love1John 4:16. So i strugle with love! If i go to 1 cor 13, God will show me,
    the most Excellent way!

  5. John,

    For our relationship with God, I agree with you that we are loved unconditionally. It’s different when you get to our relationship with each other. For me, I choose to be a “good person” because that’s how I wish to live my life. If goodness comes back, that’s nice, but not necessary.

    Like you said, God loves us regardless.

    Joe

    • Joe, you brought up a good point. I also choose to be a “good person” but this is to glorify God, not earn favors with Him. Unselfishness is a better motive. I actually wrote about this last month 🙂
      https://fearlessmen.com/honor-god-honor-yourself-and-honor-others/

      • I love the concept of motives you (John) brought up in the article and that Joe brings up in his post. Before I knew Christ, I thought very highly of myself for the same reasons you listed – I was kind, generous, clean, blah blah blah. Once I was saved those things didn’t change, but the reason changed, and so the meaning of those acts, habits, tendencies, or thoughts became so much greater.
        The hardest thing I had to learn and still struggle with is the concept of expectations – doing to receive. I would go out of my way to be a great husband for my wife and then get angry or bitter when she didn’t live up to level I thought I was setting. I realized I was only doing or giving in order to receive, either reciprocity or acclaim.
        But it wasn’t just with my wife, I realized that’s how I operated with God too. I would listen for His voice and seek His direction and then expect a great response or outcome anytime I was obedient. But I wasn’t obeying out of love and reverence, it was out of an expectation to see great things by my hand (or word), even if I would praise Him.
        I have to cling to Luke 6:34-35, “what credit is it to you if you lend to one you know will repay you? even sinners lend to sinners to get the same amount back. love your enemies, do good, and give freely expecting nothing in return…” and Matthew 6, “do not practice your righteousness in public to be seen and honored by others. when you give, do not even let your own left hand know what your right hand does.”
        Because when we stop looking for anything in return, we free ourselves from the disappointment, contempt, and judgement our own expectations bring – which it will because we will never control or know what other people or the Lord will do. When I obey now, it is only the satisfaction of overcoming my own will and submitting to His in that moment that I look forward to. I love to rejoice with Him, experiencing His own heart within mine; feeling a closeness that cannot be severed or diminished.

        • Jeremiah, thanks for sharing. I can resonate without a lot of what you shared. Last Friday night our church was doing a discipleship study and the teacher said something that really stuck with me. “You can be gracious and loving until they don’t do what you want”. One example is traffic. Ha! So true. Like you said, if there’s an expectation when giving it isn’t the right motive.

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