Joel M Bradshaw

8But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife. 9Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves. 10You shall dwell with us, and the land shall be open to you. Dwell and trade in it, and get property in it.” 11Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. 12Ask me for as great a bride-price and gift as you will, and I will give whatever you say to me. Only give me the young woman to be my wife.”–Genesis 34

Shechem raped Dinah. It was sinful and horrible. Then Shechem decided that he was in love. He had already took what he wanted from her and then wanted something more. We as the readers don’t believe his father when he said his son longed for her in his soul. We see that as convenient. We don’t allow him to woo her and romance her after he had already raped her. At no point is there humility, remorse, or repentance.

Lust is the worst type of following the heart. Shechem’s heart wanted what it wanted and then lead him to do a despicable thing. Here’s a simple principle for your relationships. LUST TAKES AND LOVE SERVES.

Shechem was a taker and not a server. With lust we want to control and take for ourselves. The other person simply exists for our pleasure. That is lust. Love looks more like this.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, (Ephesians 5:25, with emphasis)

Love in a marriage has attitudes of selfless, sacrifice, and service. Join me in staying intentional and diligent to give God glory, my friends.–JMB