If you ask those who are even the least bit religious to tell you what, in general, is the one thing that is most needed in the world, in the Lord's church, among brethren, in families, and in our society, most would likely reply that we need MORE love. For the most part, I agree, but I'd like to qualify my answer by saying that we need more of the Godly sort of love we read about in the Bible.

But, this article's purpose is to call to your attention the fact that we need less love! And the Bible teaches the need for less love. People in the world, and especially some who claim to be Christians, have too much love for some of the wrong things.

The apostle John wrote, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." (1 John 4:7-11)

In contrast to the passage just cited, Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away." (NKJV)

In this passage, the apostle Paul mentioned those who are "lovers of their OWN selves" and "lovers of PLEASURES more than lovers of God." (Emphasis, mine: tgm) Notice that Paul said they had some kinds of LOVE. But, is this love the kind of which God approves? With these opening thoughts in mind, let us consider together just what it is that WE NEED TO LOVE LESS.

1. We need LESS LOVE FOR OURSELVES. When people, especially brethren, think more highly of themselves than they ought, as sure as you and I live and breathe, trouble lies ahead. In Romans 12:3, Paul wrote, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
   
   A great deal of harmony and unity could be restored, and maintained, in families, the church, and the world in general, if all would esteem others better than themselves. In Philippians 2:3-5, that's exactly what Paul directed the Philippians to do when he wrote, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
   
   We hear a lot about self-esteem, felt needs, and building up egos. Many want to have their egos stroked, when what they really need is a big dose of the kind of self-denial our Lord taught in Luke 9:23, where He said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." When we read the Bible, we find teaching and preaching about self-denial--NOT ego-inflation, self-esteem, and felt-need teaching and preaching.
   
   
2. We need LESS LOVE FOR MONEY. The apostle Paul taught Timothy the truth about money. Paul said, "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:10,11; emphasis, mine: tgm) At the root of all kinds of evil, is the love of money. Murder, illegal drugs, alcoholism, pornography, gambling (including state lotteries), anything you name, the love of money is the driving force behind all of these sins.
   
   Money is not always a bad thing; we need it so we can purchase the necessities of life. When properly used, it can bring about much and lasting good. After all, the Corinthian brethren were commanded, in 1 Corinthians 16:1,2, to lay by in store on the first day of the week; and that certainly involved giving money! But the problem, especially with some who wear the name Christian, is the love of money.
   
   Some brethren have trouble finding any time or money to give to the Lord's work because they are too busy selfishly laying up treasures for themselves. Jesus said, in His sermon on the mount, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:19-21) No doubt, we need LESS LOVE for money and MORE LOVE for the cause of Christ.
   
   
3. We need LESS LOVE FOR THE PLEASURES OF THE WORLD. Some pleasures can be very deceiving. We live in a time of prosperity, having and enjoying many conveniences--nice homes, nice cars, nice clothes, etc. We have the world at our fingertips--the Internet, computers, cell phones, fax machines, PDAs, all manner of automatic appliances for this and that, and every kind of electronic gadget imaginable. Truly, we live in a fast-paced, push-button, technological age!
   
   God's book warns us of the dangers of pleasure. We read, in the parable of the sower recorded in Luke 8:14, that Jesus said, "And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection." This world's pleasures and riches have strangled and choked out the spirituality and faithfulness of many who would, otherwise, be faithful Christians.
   
   Also, it is sometimes more pleasant to remain in a wrong relationship than to bear the responsibility associated with doing what is right. For instance, to some, it is unthinkable to expect one who is unscripturally married to give up the pleasure of having the unscriptural mate. Many judge this to be cruel, and unusual punishment, but Godly repentance demands it. To be truthful, the real problem lies in the love for pleasure and pleasing self.
   
   Many congregations suffer from poor attendance because of their members' desires for pleasure. It is considered overbearing and narrow-minded to suggest that Christians should avoid pleasure trips to destinations where they are unable to make arrangements to assemble with faithful saints on the Lord's Day and for mid-week Bible study. Forsaking the assembly is the rotten fruit produced by love for pleasure and for self.
   
   
4. We need LESS LOVE FOR PREEMINENCE. In 3 John 9,10, we read of Diotrephes who caused problems because he had this type of love. Of Diotrephes, John wrote, "I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God." Diotrephes did evil! He had the desire to be first, or the "top dog." In some congregations, there may be one or more members who have unlawful desires to rule over others and, like Diotrephes, be "top dogs." Sometimes preachers, elders, deacons, or other members are guilty of this kind of love.
   
   The scribes and Pharisees of Matthew 23:1-13 loved to be preeminent, to exalt themselves and be exalted. Jesus commanded the people not to follow their works or traditions, because they said and did not do as they said. Yet, many blinded religious people today fall into the trap of worshiping men by calling their religious leaders (who dress notably, some seemingly wearing their collars backwards) by such titles as "Reverend," "Very Reverend," "Right Reverend," "Father," etc. The only one who is reverend is God, or Deity--God the Father who is our Heavenly Father (Psalm 111:9). Religious titles worn by mere men are worn because of their love for preeminence. In this text, Jesus denounced this sort of "name calling."
   
   
5. We need LESS LOVE FOR THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. All unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17). Sin is transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4). Sin is universal, in that "all have sinned" (Romans 3:23; 5:12). Even though there is pleasure in sin, it lasts for only a "season," a short period of time (Hebrews 11:25). Ultimately, the wages of sin will be spiritual, and possibly physical, death (Romans 6:23). Many enjoy these wages, to their own eternal destruction!
   
   In the Bible, we read: "... the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness." (Romans 1:18) In this chapter, Paul clearly taught about unrighteousness from a moral standpoint, saying in verse 29, that some are "filled with all unrighteousness;" and in verse 32, "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
   
   Paul also wrote, "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." (Romans 6:13) And Paul taught against unrighteousness from a doctrinal standpoint, when he wrote, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God." (Romans 10:1-3)
   
   Sadly, false teachers, and some "gospel preachers," receive the wages of unrighteousness for teaching false doctrine and perverting the truth of the Gospel. Of these, Paul commanded, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Romans 6:17,18)
   
   
6. Finally, we need LESS LOVE FOR THE PRAISES OF MEN. Jesus was confronted with this problem during His personal ministry. In John 12:42,43, John wrote, "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." The love for men's praises more than God's is so prevalent today.
   
   Many religious leaders, and some gospel preachers, desire to be politically correct and, therefore, fail to teach with boldness and plainness the truths of God's word that all sinners need to hear. They wish to be popular, and they love the praises of men (Ephesians 6:20; Colossians 4:3). Regarding such men:
   
   
   • Jude wrote, "These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage." (Jude 16)
   • Jesus said, "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets." (Luke 6:26)
   • Paul exhorted, in 1 Corinthians 6:4, "...that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another."
   • Of the corrupt prophets of Isaiah's day, Isaiah wrote, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him." (Isaiah 5:20-23)
     
     
   For many, righteousness has given way to political correctness and the desire to be popular and please men. Some gospel preachers who once stood boldly and firmly in God's truths have drifted into compromise on important moral and doctrinal questions, failing to "declare all the counsel of God." (Acts 20:27) This attitude is contrary to Paul's teaching in Galatians 1:10 where he wrote, "For do I now persuade men, or God, or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." Is it any wonder that unfaithfulness, spiritual softness, and religious division are so prevalent in the Lord's body today?

In conclusion, we have seen that we need LESS LOVE for, SELF, MONEY, THE PLEASURES OF THIS WORLD, PREEMINENCE, THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, and THE PRAISES OF MEN. But, what we need MORE of is love for God's truths found in His written word, the Bible. Dear reader, where are YOU focusing your love? Is it on things for which we need less love, or is it on the truths of God's word for which we all need more love? Which?

I can add nothing but a hearty AMEN to my good brother's article. I once thought I understood the confusion among so many in the religious world about the true character of Biblical love. Sadly, I'm now left shaking my head at the strange sounds coming from some of my preaching brethren. Suddenly, some are preaching without conviction and certainty about what they're teaching. Subjects that not long ago were easily understood by the majority of gospel preachers have now become murky. In case you doubt this to be the case, some have written of such things as not understanding what the cup is in Matthew 21, uncertainty about whether Jesus, while on earth, was fully God, or if He was really tempted in the flesh. They're doubtful about issues such as social drinking, gambling, adultery, unlawful marriages and divorces, and whether we can sing songs to Jesus. I'm afraid some preachers are more concerned about men's praises than about having deep, abiding respect for God's infallible word! (KMG)