1 Kings 3:3

The Grace and Place of Love.

"And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in all the statutes of David his father, only… sacrificed," etc.

Of how many men, as well as of the wisest of men, may some such words be used. Of some few it may perhaps be averred that they have loved the Lord "with a perfect heart," of fewer still, if any, that they have loved Him with all the heart, and all the mind, and all the soul, and all the strength. But in the case of most, a qualifying clause must be added, an " only ." Along with sincere piety, with devout love to Him who first loved us, how often are there found imperfections, infirmities, sins. Sometimes, e.g; the loved is tinged with superstition, as in the case of St. Theresa, Lacordaire, and many Romanists; sometimes, as in the case of Calvin and many Protestants, it is marked by harshness and intolerance; sometimes, as in the case of Schleiermacher and Bunsen, it is infected with rationalism. The love, that is to say, is not without alloy; it is not the pure refined gold. In some of the blessed saints we find narrowness and bigotry, in others fanaticism; in others, again, Pharisaism and presumption. Now all these "love the Lord only .... But observe. Solomon was loved of God; blessed, enriched, and prospered of God, despite this "only;" notwithstanding, i.e; that his sacrifice and service were marked by imperfection. Hence learn—

I. THAT GOD LOVES THOSE WHO LOVE HIM , DESPITE THEIR IMPERFECTIONS . Of course God loves men who do not love Him. "God commendeth His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners," etc. We often say to children, "God doesn't love you when you are naughty," but this is vicious theology. If this were so, there had been no hope for our world. But He is good to the unthankful and evil. Yes, the love must begin with God. "We love Him because He first loved us." And the love that bore with our sins, in the days of our impenitence, now bears also with our infirmities and ignorances. Neither superstition nor narrowness nor fanaticism "nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God," etc.

II. THAT GOD FORGIVES THOSE WHO LOVE HIM , NOTWITHSTANDING THEIR INFIRMITIES . It is not meant here that our love can make any atonement or reparation for our sins. We know of no merits or mediation but His. "Your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake." But where there is love, there is forgiveness ( Luke 7:47 ). Why, love involves penitence and faith, and ensures obedience. (Observe the next words, "Walking in all the statutes," etc.) Thus, the three conditions of forgiveness are all comprehended in love.

III. THAT GOD WILL RECEIVE THOSE WHO LOVE HIM , DESPITE THEIR IGNORANCES . The gate of heaven is never shut against love, and only love will open it.

"O merchant, at heaven's gate, for heavenly ware

Love is the only coin that passes there."

It must be so, for "love is heaven, and heaven is love"

IV. THAT WE OUGHT TO LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE GOD , DESPITE THEIR IGNORANCES , INFIRMITIES , AND IMPERFECTIONS . If the Eternal Love overlooks our " only ," surely we ought to overlook the " only " of others. We may regret their views, we may think them unsound in the faith, we may lament their superstition, their lack of "sweetness and light," their vulgarity, or fanaticism, but if God loves them, and receives them notwithstanding, what right have we to do otherwise? If they love our Lord, then they are entitled to our love. "Grace be unto all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." We find, consequently, in the religion both of the Old Testament and of the New—

V. THAT LOVE IS EVERYTHING . It is

1 . The fulfilling of the law ( Romans 13:8 , Romans 13:10 ; Matthew 22:37-40 ). We cannot break the law if we love. "Habe caritatem et fac quicquid vis," said St. Augustine.

2 . The stamp and seal royal of the Christian. "He that loveth, is born of God." "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love," etc. It has been said, "Pectus est quod theologum facit." It is equally true that the heart makes the Christian.

3 . The glory of the man. It was the greatest glory of Solomon. The highest praise recorded of him is, not that "he was wiser than all men" ( 1 Kings 4:31 ), nor yet that he "exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and wisdom" ( 1 Kings 10:1-29 :33), but that he loved the Lord. "The best thing that can be said of a man is that he loves God." Solomon in all his glory is not greater than the poorest of the saints.

4 . The one thing needful. The one thing God demands is the heart. (Adelaide Proeter's beautiful poem," Give me thy heart," affords a fine illustration here.) It is the mainspring of the man. The life depends on the heart. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when the Roman Catholics were commanded to attend Church under pains and penalties, some of their leaders applied to the Pope for guidance. "Let the Catholics of England," was the astute reply, "give me their hearts, and the Queen may do what she likes with the rest."