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Exceeding Love 2

by Olawale Ogunsola  
6/23/2023 / Relationships

Love is a word to live by. Everyone wants it. Everyone needs it. Anyone who does not have or receive it feels empty. He will feel neglected and rejected. The foundation of loneliness will be laid and gradual journey to the grave of such fellow has begun, if no improvement takes place.

Love between two persons can be seen and expressed by people around. They can even make a comparison with others' love.

Do you know that a person in love also knows and can express the extent of his love? Yes, it is possible. Many times this is the most common. People tell others "I love you." Although, in many cases, such expression is based on deceit. A deceiver is punishable by God.

However, there cannot be a fake product without the original being in existence first. Why acts that look like love exist is because love is existing.
Anyone who loves another person should know and he is free to express it sincerely without mincing words. He can also mention the worth of such love in his heart and by his actions.
This was the case with Elkanah and his love for his first wife, Hannah, who was barren.

The Holy Scriptures disclose,
[4]"On the days Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her children.
[5]And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portion because the lord had given her no children." 1 Samuel 1.

Let me call your attention to this, "He loved Hannah.". Although Peninnah had many children by Elkanah, no record of such statement is made in the Holy Bible about her. This means that it is possible to have numerous children from a woman without loving her.Childbearing does not procure true love; but love attracts quality children.

Pay attention also to "portions of meat" given to Peninnah and her children. It means that it is possible to give someone a gift without deep love for him. Gifts is not a lone evidence of love. It may not demonstrate true love.
Contrarily, the gift given to Hannah was a different one. She was given a "Choice portion of meat". Do you know that it is not only the size of the meat that made a choice one? The quality of love behind it added great value to make it a choice portion.

Elkanah's love became manifest in hating to see Hannah crying. He loved to see her smile or laugh whole heartedly. When he saw her crying because Peninnah taunted her, he shared in her grief and consoled her thus,
[8]“Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?" 1 Samuel 1.

Please, take note of "You have me- isn't that better than having ten sons?"
Will you agree with me that Elkanah knew the extent of his love for his ONLY WIFE, Hannah? I put only wife in capital letters because she was the only occupier of her husband's heart. No rivals there and there could never be because Elkanah had the key to his heart and he had locked it against any "strange woman". That is the truth. Peninnah was in the house of Elkanah but not in his heart. Period!

There is a wide gap between many portions and choice portion. It is only love that guarantee s choice portion.
Was the man sure of his pronouncements? Let us reason together with him:
i. He did not like Hannah being sorrowful. He hated her being downhearted
ii. He was ready to be a source of consolation and comfort to her.
iii. He shared in Hannah's grief and reproach. How could he be happy seeing his beloved going childless? It was painful to him also. He could not help to eliminate their reproach but they both continued to serve God faithfully, 1 Samuel 1:1-12.
iv. Not only that, he did not obstruct whatever her good decisions were, the Scripture confirms, "[23]“Whatever you think is best,” Elkanah agreed. “Stay here for now, and may the lord help you keep your promise.” So she stayed home and nursed the boy until he was weaned.' 1 Samuel 1

That was at a time she chose not to go for annual service at Shilo. Note that the man agreed with her good decisions. Is that not love? He did not start to rebuke her training unprintable things on her. This was so because feared the Lord and loved his wife.

Assessing the quality of love he had towards her made Mao declare that he had love worth more than what ten sons could offer her. He knew what was in his heartowardds her.

In a nutshell, Elkanah's love for his wife, Hannah, exceeded that of ten sons. He could be available for her twenty-four seven buhis t ten sons could not because they will have their homes to build and maintain in the future. Remember that the foundational decree of God remains, "[24]This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one."
Every man ought to obey this b, sadly, as it has been distorted by humanity in various ways. Stay blessed and prepared for the imminent coming of the Lord.

Note:
All Scriptures quoted are from the m New Living Translation, NLT, of the Holy Bible.

The Author is the set man of CTFM(WORLD OUTREACH)and Presiding Pastor of Christ Restland Gospel Church.He is a Poet and author of many books. Visit his blogsites www.4thlink.wordpress.com and www.peacelink.wordpress.com for more quality contents.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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