Read the following song, I Am Nothing, by Ginny Owens below. Then read it again.

I Am Nothing

I could travel over oceans, cross the deserts, and climb the mountains
Just to share your story, bring you glory, and win souls for you.
I could sing like an angel, songs so humble and so thankful
Full of drama and emotion, so the world would know your truth.
I could give away my money and my clothes and my food
To restore those people who are poor, lost, and down-and-out.
Oh, I could succeed at all these things,
Find favor with peasants and kings,
But if I do not love, I am nothing.

I could live a flawless life,
Never cheat or steal or lie,
And always speak so kindly, smile so warmly, and go about doing good.
I could dedicate myself to do what everyone else wants me to-
Listen to them, compliment them, say the things I should.

I could show up every Sunday, lead the choir and Bible study
And they all might come to know me as a leader and a friend.
Oh, I could achieve success on earth, but success cannot define my worth
And all these actions, all these words, will not matter in the end-

Cause songs will fade to silence,
And stories, they will cease.
The dust will settle, covering all my selfless deeds.
So when I strive to serve you,
Won’t you make it clear to me,
That if I do not love, I am nothing.

If I cannot live my life loving my brother,
Then how can I love the one who lived his life for me?

Sent to earth from heaven,
Humble servant, holy king,
Come to share a story, get no glory, and save my searching soul,
You knew that I’d deny you, crucify you, but nothing could stop you from
Living for me, dying for me, so that I would know-

Songs will fade to silence,
Stories will cease,
The dust will settle covering these selfless deeds.
But your life here has made it clear enough for me to see
That if I do not love, I am nothing

I've had this song tucked away in my massive cd collection for several years now, and really first came across it this week as I packed and sorted various items (junk). My first thought was, "Man, I can't believe I lost this song," but really, the timing couldn't have been more perfect for it's discovery.

I've found myself lost as well the past few weeks--lost in the various compliments and praises for our decision to move out to the farm. "Oh, how wonderful that you want to go help people like that!" "So you want to be missionaries? How marvelous." Mess like that is what I'm talkin' about.

At first, I let the various accolades bounce off me without much effect. However, as Faith and I allow ourselves to continue to hear this flattery, it begins to take it's toll. In my mind, our value (based on our potentially righteous deeds) begins to rise. And slowly, but every so surely, the original intentions driven by compassion begin to give way to a sense of self-rigteousness.

So let's just say the song you just read, I Am Nothing, was a good kind of electroshock treatment. It showed me where my thoughts and intentions were heading, and where they needed to be. For as Ginny Owens sings, all my actions "will not matter in the end...if I do not love".

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."