The cost of entering an inappropriate relationship can be damaging and costly in so many ways. There’s shame to self, grief to a martial partner, embarrassment to one’s children, discredit to one’s character and disrepute to one’s office, among others. In spite of the high stakes gamble, Psychology Today reported that approximately 20 percent of married couples in the US have cheated. Does it matter that 84 percent of Americans believe that infidelity is morally wrong? According to the World Population Review, Denmark receives the unflattering standing of having the highest affair rate in the world at 46 percent, followed by Germany and Italy at 45 percent.
Love can be blind and seduction so subtle. Extramarital affairs only made news headlines and became coffeeshop talk in recent times because it involved public figures in places of leadership, not because it’s anything new. King David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, and adultery is forbidden by the seventh commandment: “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14).
When our heartbeat quickens and emotions wash over us, perhaps 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 can be our checklist as we score it against our relationships, including the convert. Is love patient? Is it kind? Does love envy? Does it boast? Does it dishonor others? Is it self-seeking?
Love is more than just a human emotion. It’s a powerful theme in the Bible. It’s the very nature of God for God is love and we are His beloved. The church is like the bride awaiting the bridegroom.
As established earlier, love can be a costly affair when we deeply love another outside the institution of marriage and the covenant we make to protect and invest in it. The hurt, pain and shame can be deep and the impact extends beyond oneself and family.
From God’s point of view, His love for us is also a costly affair, because He knows you and I are fallible beings, prone to wander and ever looking for fulfilment away from God. He knew He had to redeem us from our fallen state, hence His selfless sacrifice of His precious Son, Jesus Christ, to be the propitiation for our sins.
I am reminded of a song titled When God Ran, whose lyrics almost describe the scene when the father ran to his prodigal son who had returned home:
He ran to me, took me in his arms
Held my head to his chest
Said, “My son’s come home again!”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in his voice, he said,
“Son, do you know I still love you?”
You may not be struggling with affairs of the heart. It could be some other secret sin you’re grappling with or a bad habit that dishonours God that you’ve not been able to kick. May be you’ve compromised on something you deeply regret. Just know that God’s love covers a multitude of sins.
Our sin can be costly, but God’s love is costlier.
Our sins can cost us many things, but God’s love covers everything.
By brother Stanley Leong
