“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13
Love is beautiful, but it isn’t cheap.
We often talk about love as a feeling—warm, affirming, sweet. And it is all of those things. But real love—the kind that reflects the heart of God—will cost us something. Sometimes it costs time. Sometimes it costs comfort. Sometimes it costs our pride or convenience or control.
Love means forgiving when we’d rather hold onto the hurt. It means showing up when it’s inconvenient. It means listening when we’re tired, and choosing patience when frustration comes easy.
But here’s the truth: that kind of love changes us. It draws us closer to the people we love. It creates bonds that go beyond surface-level affection. The more we invest, the deeper we grow—not just in relationship with others, but in maturity, in grace, and in our likeness to Jesus.
Think of Ruth.
When her husband died, Ruth could have returned home to her own people and rebuilt her life. But love compelled her to stay with Naomi—an aging, grieving mother-in-law with no resources and little hope. Ruth’s words are unforgettable: “Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay.” That kind of love—costly, loyal, and sacrificial—brought restoration not only to Naomi, but also to Ruth herself. Her love planted the seeds of redemption, leading to an entirely new future neither of them could have imagined.
And it goes both ways.
Being loved also costs something. It means letting people in. It means receiving, even when we’d rather be strong and independent. It means admitting we have needs, trusting someone else enough to see us vulnerable. It means letting others sacrifice for us—and realizing we’re worth it to them.
That’s not always easy.
But when someone chooses to love you—when they invest time, effort, and sacrifice into your life—it is a sacred thing. Their love is a gift that reshapes the soul. It’s humbling. It’s healing. And it reminds us that we were never meant to walk this life alone.
This week, before we arrive at the cross, take time to notice the ordinary sacrifices of love—both given and received. Let the small, costly choices to love be acts of worship. And let the love others show you be a reminder of your value, not just to them—but to God Himself.
Because next week, we will see just how far He was willing to go to show it.
2 responses to “When Love Costs You Something”
Doing a lot of thinking on this, I can see giving your life for a dear friend. When you have children and other family that depend on you it doesn’t seem right to do so.
Any insight on this?
That’s such an important point. Love and sacrifice must always be rooted in wisdom—and in the order God has given us. Sometimes we equate sacrificial love with constantly pouring ourselves out for others, but if that comes at the expense of those we’re called to care for most closely—our spouse, our children, our household—then something’s out of balance.
It’s true: too many pastors, leaders, and caregivers have lost their families because they gave everything to others and left nothing for home. But I don’t think that’s what Jesus meant when He said to “lay down your life.” Laying down your life isn’t about being stretched so thin that you’re depleted. It’s about choosing love, even when it costs something—and that starts with the people God has entrusted directly into our care.
Sometimes the hardest and holiest sacrifice is saying no to others in order to say yes to your family. And that, too, is love.