Love always Protects

Brothers, this one is for us.

If you have not figured it out already, I am a Black man.  As such, I feel like I can write certain things about my people that others cannot.  Brace yourselves brothers, this may sting a bit. 

I was talking to a brother yesterday.  He has a 2 year old son, and his eyes light up when he talks about his wife and his kid.  It was a joy to just listen to him talk about his family.  He has been affected by this economy and he is working a second job, and he was greatful that he has the opportunity to put in some extra hours so he can put his family in a better position.  He didn't complain, he didn't groan, he was the consummate protector, doing whatever he needed to do to make sure his family survives. 

It is not secret that our culture is sick.  It no longer functions as a way to transmit positive values.  Our women are exhausted.  They are jaded on the prospect of finding a decent man.  They are overworked and underappreciated.  They are sagging under the weight of carrying dual roles.  More of our young men are in jail and prison than in college.  And brothers, it is all our fault!  Love always protects, and we have not been protecting our women and children.

 

The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:7 the following about love

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Brothers, we have not loved our families the way God would have us to love our families for several generations.  Our children and our women bear the scars of our failures.  While we languish in front of the TV playing Madden, or behind bars because we were not man enough to work for what we wanted.  And while we were so busy loving ourselves, and pleasing ourselves, our women were busy playing the man. 

We have failed to protect our loved ones.  The Greek translation of the term is: to cover.  We have not covered our loved ones.  Men it is our job to cover in every circumstance.  We must cover from the elements, cover from hunger, cover from nakedness, cover from the world, cover in prayer, cover in affection, cover in teaching, cover in everything.  We must be willing to go out and fight, and possibly lose our very lives for the ones we love---and not just when we feel brave. 

You'll notice the term always precedes protects.  That term is unconditional.  Always is always.  So we are to put aside our needs to protect the objects of our love regardless of the circumstance. Try this, ask yourself what do you protect?  Your car?  Your home?  Your Jordans?  Your bank account?  Your reputation?  What do you make sure is always secure.  That, my friend is what you love. 

Let's look at this outside of the physical realm.  I'm writing to Christian men now.  Brothers, if we love Jesus, have we sought to protect him?  It is very true, Jesus does not need our protection.  But do we maintain a vigilant heart against those that would pervert, denounce, or otherwise compromise the word of God?  Brothers, if we love Jesus, then how can we allow people to smear his precious name in our presence without uttering a single word? 

Jesus provides the perfect example of protection on the cross.  His blood is our covering.  It conceals our wickedness from a just God who has to punish sin.  Jesus endured terrible pain, and then death to protect us-who he loves.  He gave all for us.  In doing so he provided a prefect example of how far we should be willing to go to cover those we love. 

Men, let's stand up and love our women and children properly.  Let's put ourselves aside and become the protectors God designed us to be.  It begins by repenting and believing in Christ.  Understanding his love and protection is the beginning of understanding how we are to love and protect. 

Love always protects.