Which definition of “Love as Service” should we follow?

In his book How God is in Business, Dallas Willard points out two meanings of love as service.

One is, “I love you, and I’ll serve you by doing what you want me to do.”

The other is, “I love you, and I will serve you by doing what is good for you, whether you want it or not.” 

The first definition is how we often think of maximizing revenue. But Willard points out a challenge: What people want isn’t always good for them.

It’s the second definition of “love as service” that governs how we should think in terms of being a morally good person. Willard defines this as a person who is “intent upon advancing the various goods of human life with which (we) are in effective contact.” 

Perhaps ironically, if we were thinking about parenting, we have no qualms with the idea of not giving in to a kid screaming that they want candy dinner. Candy for dinner, generally speaking, isn’t good for them.

But do we stop to think whether or not what a business or customer or coworker wants is good for them?

Serving others is an act of love, and God smiles when we do that. 

But it’s only truly love when we pursue the good, true, and beautiful as defined by the Author of good, true, and beautiful.