Don’t Settle for Anything Less – Today’s Youth Devotion

Don’t Settle for Anything Less

Bible Reading: 1 John 4:7-12

Anyone who does not love does not know God-for God is love. 1 John 4:8

EVER HEARD that old song about infatuation and marriage? The words go some­thing like, “Infatuation and marriage, infatuation and marriage-go together like a horse and carriage.”

If you’re hip to the sounds of golden oldies, right now you’re saying, “It’s not in­fatuation and marriage, it’s love and marriage.” And you’re correct. But in everyday life, loads of people get the two words mixed up. What’s the difference?

Infatuation has been defined as the emotional impulse of love, untested by time or circumstance. Since infatuation can lead to real love, sometimes it’s tough to tell the difference. The characteristics below, though, highlight the huge difference be­tween infatuation and true love. How does your love measure up?

Infatuation	True Love
Develops suddenly	Grows with time
Up and down emotionally	Consistent
Fickle	Faithful
Breaks up when irritated	Does not panic when problems arise
Emphasizes looks	Emphasizes character
Gets	Gives
Based on my feelings	Based on the other’s needs
Self-centered	Self-controlled
Physical first	Spiritual first
Expects to find happiness	Expects to work at happiness
Asks, “How am I doing?”	Asks, “How are you doing?”
Focuses on the other’s performance	Unconditionally accepts the other
Possessive	Allows the other to relate to others
Idealizes the other person	Realistic about strengths and weaknesses
Avoids problems	Works through problems

Do those characteristics of true love remind you of someone? They should, be­cause they reflect the characteristics of God’s love for you. You are the object of that selfless, unconditional love every day. And when you start to live out those traits in your relationships, you mirror God’s love.

REFLECT: Are your attitudes toward the opposite sex more like infatuation­ or like real love?

PRAY: Ask God to help you express his love to others every day.