Characteristics of a Strength Person
Prefers real world to imagination.
Has a concrete, literal, one dimensional mindset.
Sees work as important.
Believes that the fairness in fantasy can come to life through hard work in the real world.
Loves telling and hearing stories.
Desires to do more than capable of doing.
Can see what needs to be done.
Feels responsible for what needs to be done.
Has the ability to be a perfectionist.
Has guilt from not doing enough.
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What does it mean to love God with our Strength?
Strength in the faith relationship, as a personal investment of love, is using a person's capabilities, such as talents or finances. In a simple way, the 'strength' that is invested is someone's strengths, or that which one has. The 'strength' is the physical side of an individual that is capable of investing love in God. Strength means the activities, other than mental, that someone gives to God. To love God with one's strength agrees with the ancient concept of love that is called eros. The love that one has in one's heart, or storge, is short lived because of the emotions that one gives in a relationship. On the other hand, the love that one gives with one's strength has a longer life. To love with strength is not a desire to release one's emotions and have a catharsis. It is more than a feeling. It is to love perpetually. It is the kind of love that seeks to produce in the world. Strength love is faith at work. To love with one's strength is to act and do something for another person. For this reason, James writes, What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill', and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.[1] Faith is not faith without actions that coincide with it. Faith needs to contain the love of one's strength in order for it to be faith. To love with strength is an act of willingly taking on the responsibility of another person. It is doing for another person what one would do for self. For this reason, to love God with one's strength means to do things for God. It is taking responsibility for God's work on earth as an act of love.
[1] James 2:14-17.
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Biblical Examples of Loving God with Strength
Biblical examples of strength love take many forms. It can be seen in those who create things like Noah building an ark[1] or Bezalel constructing the tabernacle.[2] Another example is the repentant act of Zacchaeus giving half of his possessions to the poor.[3] The love of God with one's strength is seen in the actions of faith. It is giving to God of what one physically owns.
Jesus often preaches and commands the faithful to do something. It is Jesus' method of pushing his followers to love with strength, or through the production of work. And Jesus is not shy about commanding the faithful to use their strength for God. A great example of this is a rich man who approaches Jesus wanting to know what he needs to do to have eternal life. This man tells Jesus that he has obeyed all of the commandments. The story reads, "Jesus said to him, 'If you wish to be perfect [complete], go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.' When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions."[4] The rich man knows how to love God. He has his list of laws that he wants to follow. He even shows concern to Jesus that he is not doing everything for God that he can; that he does not love God with all of his strength. As it turns out, he has not done everything that he can. God requires more of him. He is unable to do it and this is why Jesus recognizes that he is not 'perfect'. He lacks a faith that is complete.
[1] Gen 6:22 [2] Ex 31:2-3 [3] Luke 19:8 [4] Matt 19:21-22.
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