PASTOR BEN’S COMMENTS

Glynn Wolfe recently died alone in Los Angeles at the age of 88. No one came to claim his body; the city paid to have him buried in an unmarked grave. This is sad, but not unusual. It happens all too often in large cities where people tend to live disconnected lives.

Glynn’s situation was unique, though, because he was no ordinary man. He held a world record. The Guinness Book listed him as the Most Married Man, with 29 marriages to his credit. This means 29 times he was asked, “Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife … forsaking all others do you pledge yourself only to her, so long as you both shall live?” 29 times Glynn Wolfe said, “I Do,” but it never quite worked out that way.

He died leaving behind children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, a number of living ex-wives, and innumerable ex-in-laws–and still, he died alone. He spent his entire adult life looking for something he apparently never found–and he died alone.

Glynn Wolfe is an extreme example of how people spend their lives drifting in and out of marriages, in and out of relationships, only to find themselves isolated and alone. Even worse, there are others who spend their lives married to the same person and still end up feeling isolated and alone.

The fact is, if we look for ultimate fulfillment in marriage, or romance, or friendship, or family, we will never be satisfied. As important as these relationships are, they cannot take the place of the Ultimate Relationship for which we have been created and redeemed.

Our primary purpose is to love God. When we allow secondary relationships to take God’s rightful place in our lives, we become dissatisfied and frustrated. The result is, like Glynn Wolfe, we end up isolated and alone.

When Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment of all, He responded by saying…

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30

Part two of Jesus’ commandment is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” A dimension of our joy is connected to our family, friends, neighbors and associates. In addition to making us for Himself, God has made us to live in community. The beloved disciple said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 Jn. 1:4) As we “by love, serve one another,” (Gal. 5:13) we are fulfilling the command of our Redeemer. Our God uses this kind of consistent living to draw others to Himself. As we then speak for Him, our witness will have authenticity.

This joyful and significant living starts with our relationship with our God. Our success in loving others depends upon our willingness to love God above all else, with all that we have.

Pause for a moment this February and consider the deep love of Jesus for you, reflect on the way you acknowledge that love. Let a sense of that love move you in taking active steps to love and serve Him and then others.