"Comparing Spiritual Growth"

CASE 4: "But when I compare my love for God with my love for some worldly pleasures, I find that my affections are stronger for the worldly things than for the Creator. How then can I call him Father?

 Moreover, those moments of passion for Him that I once had are now gone; so I fear that all the love I ever had for the Lord was just a temporary burst of emotion, like those experienced by hypocrites." Answer: It's true that loving the world above all else is a sign of an unregenerate state (1 John 2:15). However, strong emotions aren't always an accurate measure of the depth of love. A person's emotions can be more stirred up by an object that is not particularly important than by one that is truly cherished, just as a small stream can sometimes make more noise than a large river. The strength of our affections should be measured by the depth and stability of their roots, not by the intensity of their expression. For example, if someone is unexpectedly reunited with a long-lost friend and experiences a surge of emotion towards that friend, this doesn't mean that they love their friend more than their own spouse and children. Similarly, even though a Christian may feel more passionate love for a worldly pleasure than for God, this doesn't mean they love that pleasure more than God. A genuine love for God is always more deeply rooted in a person's heart than love for any worldly pleasure. This becomes evident when faced with a choice between keeping the worldly pleasure or maintaining their relationship with God. To understand your own situation, honestly assess your priorities in the presence of God. If you had to choose between Christ and worldly pleasures, which would you let go of? If you're willing to part with what's dearest to you in the world for Christ when called upon, then you shouldn't conclude that you love the world more than God. On the contrary, your willingness to make that sacrifice demonstrates your love for God, even if your emotions are more intense for worldly pleasures (Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26). Furthermore, you should consider that there are two types of love for Christ: 1) Sensible love, which is felt as a passionate emotion, and 2) Rational love, which is based on a deep respect for God's authority and commands. Sensible love can be experienced as a longing for Christ, as seen in Song of Solomon 5:8 and 2:5. This type of love is common in new believers, who are often filled with joy and enthusiasm for their faith. As their initial fervor fades, they may become more humble, self-aware, and reliant on Christ for forgiveness and sanctification. Rational love, on the other hand, is demonstrated by obedience to God's commands and a desire to please Him (1 John 5:3). This type of love may not involve the same emotional intensity as sensible love, but it is no less genuine. Even if you no longer experience the passionate emotions of sensible love, you shouldn't assume that your love for God is hypocritical as long as you maintain rational love. A loving and faithful spouse doesn't need to question their love for their partner simply because their initial infatuation has subsided.

- Thomas Boston