God doesn’t give cautiously. He gives lavishly … even recklessly!

Is God’s love ‘reckless’ as songwriter Corey Asbury’s powerful worship song suggests? A key phrase from his popular song “Reckless” celebrates the ‘overwhelming, undeserving, reckless love of God.”

Some struggle connecting the word ‘reckless’ with the character of God.

To be true, a word with the dictionary meaning of: lack of proper caution : careless of consequences, (Merriam-Webster) hardly seems fitting to describe a God of intentionality and divine purpose. Throwing caution to the wind would hardly be a trait we’d admire in someone we are trusting with our lives and futures.

Yet doesn’t it seem as if the way God dispenses his love appears to be a bit reckless? As in his depiction of himself as leaving ninety nine safe sheep to search for just one? John 3:16 describes a God who loves everybody, everywhere … with no guarantee that He will be loved in return.

When we’re told that God loved us while we were still sinning (While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 NIV)… doesn’t that sound scandalous. Looking at it from God’s point of view, doesn’t that love appear almost reckless? Like He gives it away indiscriminately?

But seriously, who wants love without it being a bit reckless? Wasn’t it a bit chancy when I asked Joanie to spend the rest of her life with me, not aware of the unknowns and ramifications it would have in my life from that point onward?

Without recklessness, love would be reduced to 26 pages of pre-nuptial agreements, pages of lawyer’s fine print and a stifling marriage of constrictive rules and a million reasons for hesitation, not commitment.

Joanie and I both threw a certain amount of caution to the wind and threw ourselves into a relationship that was to pleasure both of us for decades.

And likewise, God offers his unconditional love and acceptance to all, without establishing an “If you will… then I will” stipulation. If you want to follow Him there are some requirements, but none needed to be loved by Him.

So you may stumble a bit over the use of the word ‘reckless’ but I’ll accept his love willingly without questions or doubts!

“Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant.

He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything

of himself to us. Love like that.” Ephesians 5:2 The Message