The Love Languages of God

What are God’s love languages? We’ve all heard of the different love langues as outlined in the book by Gary Chapman, but have we ever considered how God feels loved? I’ve been thinking on this.

So how does God say he feels loved?

1. When we sing to Him – This is clear throughout the psalms. He loves when we sing to Him and he also sings over us (Zeph 3:17).
   
2. When we trust Him – Heb 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God. With faith and trust we please him.
   
3. When we obey Him – Jn 15 says if we love him, we will do what he says. This too is a sign of respect and trust.

But there’s more. Of course I know there’s more but when I typed the word “pleasing” into the concordance I got a few things I hadn’t thought about. For example this one:

¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, ¹⁸ because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God – Rom 14:17-19

When we serve Christ not with legalism, but with righteousness, peace and joy, it is pleasing to God. Think of it this way. A parent is most pleased when their kids are behaving, but more than that when they are happy and playing. This gives any parent great joy. Same with God.

Then there’s the pleasing that comes from giving to one another. Paul was in prison and the Philippians gave him a sacrificial offering. Paul says this:

They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. Php 4:18.

It’s not just about the money but that they gave to Paul in his hour of need, sacrificially. I understand this. Right now I am receiving support from 2 individuals at such sacrificial levels. It’s hard to receive, but God says their gifts are pleasing to him.

And then there’s caring for those in need, especially family.

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God – 1 Tim 5:4

It’s pleasing to God when we take care of our family. This is one Scripture I have taken very seriously. I don’t think, if it’s not impossible, that “caring” and nursing home go together. Yes, there is a time to put someone in a nursing home when it’s just not possible. But for far too many, they can be home.

Yes, it’s a sacrifice. But I have talked to countless elderly who have broken hearts not being with their family. Family will say “but they like it there,” and “it’s better for them there,” but I don’t believe that. We don’t want to be around strangers when we’re old. We want to be around family. And family can typically take care of their elders but it does require sacrifice. This too is pleasing to God.