An act of love is often thought highly of in our society.  Actions speak louder than words, often implies that showing your love through deeds has more value than simply saying "I love you".  Why is there so much emphasis on proving love?  The world is not known for its honesty and many find it difficult to trust.  Without trust, it is constant proof is imperative.  Our society has taught girls to be wary of the boys who say "I love you".  Ulterior motives cause many to worry.  The boy may not actually love the girl, but might desire to get something from her and abuse her trust to obtain his own pleasure.  The trouble is, when we become Christians, we often bring in these old views of love.  This poses a challenge for Christians who think simply fulfilling the job associated with their gifts is an appropriate use of the gift.  How often do we have the "FINE, I guess I'll do it" attitude about our jobs? Taking this outlook does not reap the benefits of serving in love.  The love is not the action, it is the condition of the heart.  The visible proof can often found in the deed, but the love is not actually the deed. The world struggles intensely with this point because corruption disables unbelievers from experiencing true love.  It comes down to this, God's love for us is pure and untainted, demonstrated through action but not based on it.  We need to allow this love to overflow in and through us.  This sort of love is unmistakable.  The words of Kant have dictated the American view of love for nearly 200 years, but the foundation of true love is found in the Father.  It is this true love that we should all desire and implement in ministry.