Misplaced Love

by Rev. Howard Rosen, Jr
(Dillwyn, VA)

Pleasant Grove Baptist

John 13:1-13:1 – We know that the hour Jesus is talking about is the time of His death on the cross, but let’s look at the words, Having loved His own – Those four words are a brief but complete summary of the Savior’s conduct towards His followers, that He loves us enough to call us His own.

He loves us no matter what we may do; He always sees our lost state and ready to give us His forgiveness. Even when we rebuke Him He loves us. He was facing the many troubles that were to come His way in the next few days, but we know that His love for us has not then nor ever, been Misplaced, for the text says He loved them unto the end.

One of the greatest tragedies in Christianity today is that Christians have misplaced their love for God. What a tragedy! We Christians say we believe Jesus Christ, we say He died for us was mocked, spit on, cursed, had his beard plucked from his face, beaten and was nailed to a cross, shed his blood for us, died, and rose again for you and I, yet many of us have fallen more in love with what he has created than loving the creator!

That my friend is Misplaced Love. Can I ask you a serious question; Have you Misplaced the love for God? Do you love Him with heart, mind, soul and all your strength?
SEVEN MISPLACED AREAS OF LOVE...

1. LOVE OF SELF. (2TI 3:2)

"For men shall be lovers of their own selves…

The world says if it feels good do it and Even Christians have become this way self- centered, selfish and flat out lovers of our own selves. We live in a ME world. We want food my way, our spouses my way, our children my way, our church my way, everything, my way!

God is not Burger King . . . you know have it your way. What about God’s way, what about stop misplacing God’s for our way?

A young man said to his father at breakfast one morning, "Dad, I’m going to get married."
"How do you know you’re ready to get married?" asked the father. "Are you in love?"
"I sure am," said the son.
"How do you know you’re in love?" asked the father.
"Last night as I was kissing my girlfriend good-night, her dog bit me and I didn’t feel the pain until I got home." He was focused on her not himself!

It’s so normal to love ourselves that Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."
Have you misplaced your love in yourselves? Or have you replaced your love for God with love of self.

2. LOVE OF MONEY. (1TI 6:10)

"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows".

People do some funny things when they get or have or fall in to money. Love-letter:
Dearest Jimmy,
No words could ever express the great unhappiness I’ve felt since breaking our engagement. Please say you’ll take me back. No one could ever take your place in my heart, so please forgive me. I love you, I love you, I love you! Yours forever, Marie.
P.S. -- And congratulations on winning the state lottery.

The Bible says "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also"! Notice the verse doesn’t say money is the root of all evil, it says for the "love" of money is: Many believers say this is my money, be careful it’s God’s money. He gave you the abilities to make it, he made the people who made it but are we guilty of loving money more than God?

We're more about our business than we are about God’s business? Look at V 10 again, notice what happened when people fall in love with money, they covet, they pursue it, it consumes them, its there day is built around. But many of them err from the faith- we have all seen this.

I know people who when they made $200 a week they gave their 20 but when making their $1000 a week they couldn’t give that 100. It became their money. And notice the last part of the verse, "pierced" many even Christians equate money with happiness--- not at all true, many rich people are unhappy or more unhappy than the poor, you know why because money can be gone just like that, but Christ is forever. Many rich people hate life and kill themselves. Do you love YOUR money more than God? Is it Misplaced?

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray my brand new car to keep
I pray my stocks are on the rise
And that my analyst is wise
That all the wine I sip is white
And that my hot tub’s watertight
That racquetball won’t get too tough
That all my sushi’s fresh enough
I pray my cell phone always works
That my career won’t lose it perks
My microwave won’t radiate
My condo won’t depreciate
I pray my health club doesn’t close
And that my money market grows
If I go broke before I wake
I pray my Lincoln they won’t take.

3. LOVE OF PRAISE. (JN 12:43)

"For they loved the praise of men more than . . .

Our motive should never be for our own glory but for the one deserving, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That is what you were created for to praise him. Colossians 1:16, I Cor. 10:31 (all things made for him and by him) Anything else is Misplaced love.

4. LOVE OF WORLD. (1JN 2:15)

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him".

Many people I know that are Christians are not looking for their Lord’s return: They have misplaced the love of our Lord’s return for the things of the world. I say this world has nothing to offer. But many Christians are in love with this world and the things of the world . .

Stuart after hearing a message on the coming of Christ, says dad I hope I get to drive before Jesus comes, that may be ok for a child, but we need to love His the promise of His return.

5. LOVE OF PLEASURE. (2TI 3:4)

"Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God".

How about it?
Do you give God as much time as you give the TV?
Do you read your bible more than other things?
Do you choose, church or hobby? Both are fine, but is the love Misplaced?

Do you give the cable or satellite company more than you give to Missions? These are the days of selfish love and self-gratification. We have gotten comfortable with Misplacing our love for God, but it is time we remember, He loved us to the end. We never receive as much pleasure as when we focus on pleasing others.

6. LOVE OF DARKNESS. (JN 3:19)

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil".

Making decisions in the dark can lead to some regrettable consequences. We are to walk in the light.

7. LOVE LOST. (MT 24:12)

"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold".

We are accountable before God to love the lost and try to reach them, warn them of the things to come, but yet love them. Just take a look at the news, you see the Bible coming to its fulfillment, love is quickly going away. Even among Christians, we can’t seem to get along.

Mark 12:30 Who do you really love? Let’s take the example of Christ and love till the end and be careful not to Misplace our love.