I thought I lost a friend last week.
A baseball player that I coached many years ago contacted me. He told me how important I had been in his life, and how fondly he remembered me.
Our electronic conversation went on for three days, each day filled with warm fuzzies and happy memories. Each conversation seemed more intimate and open.
And then he asked me for money.
When I asked for more information about his particular need, he grew offended and broke off contact. I think he even cancelled his facebook account.
And here is what I realized.
He had contacted me not to be a friend. But because he wanted and needed something.
And that is not friendship or love.
I hope he finds his money. I actually hope he responds again to my emails.
But I was reminded that love doesn’t ask, “What have you done for me lately?” It asks, “What can I do for you?” Love doesn’t expect anything. Love yearns to fill others’ expectations. Love doesn’t have a motive. Love desires relationship.
Jesus gives us the best example of this. While He is King of the Universe, and certainly of me, He doesn’t ask, “what have You done for Me lately?” He accepts my poor gifts, and gives them back… and more… over and over.
He doesn’t expect anything of me. He loves me because He loves to love… not because I have done or said the right things.
He doesn’t have a motive in loving me. He wants to be my Brother, my Lord, my Helper, my Comforter, my Stronghold, my Redeemer, my Understander, and my Friend.
I am sorry for the poor friend I often am.
And I am grateful for the good friends that I do have.
But mostly… all this makes me hold more tightly to Jesus.