John wrote, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3). Pretty clear, right? Well ... maybe. You see, "the love of God" is ambiguous. Think about it ... does it mean "the love that God gives us" or "the love we have for God"? But the previous verse clears that up. "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments" (1 John 5:2). So, the topic is "we love God." Then John connects "we love God" with ... obeying.
Jesus said the same thing. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). Apparently "love" equals "obey" when we're talking about God. That is, if I love God, my wish is to keep His commands ... to do what pleases Him. If I don't wish to keep His commands ... I don't love Him. This whole concept is throughout Scripture. God told Israel to obey His commandments which was rooted in "You shall love YHWH your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" (Deut 6:1-17). Samuel said, "Has YHWH as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of YHWH? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to heed than the fat of rams" (1 Sam 15:22). Jesus summed up the law and prophets in ... love (Matt 22:37-40). Love for God produces obedience.
James said that faith without works was dead faith (James 2:17). In a similar way, love for God without obedience is dead love. Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt 6:21). If we treasure God, our heart ... our love ... will be there and we will long to do what pleases Him. Perhaps our efforts to "do" for "duty" are misdirected. Perhaps what's needed is a heart for God ... the kind of heart that changes how we live.
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