That question—“Is this what God really wants?”—is a sincere cry from someone who may be weary of one-sided relationships.

And the short answer is: God does call us to love sacrificially—but He does not call us to enable emotional depletion, codependency, or false burdens.

1.

Jesus Loved Freely—but Not Without Boundaries

Jesus invested in people who failed Him, misunderstood Him, even betrayed Him. But He didn’t chase them all. He didn’t entrust Himself to everyone.

“But Jesus… did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew all men.” —John 2:24

He gave love, but not always access.

2.

God’s Love Is Self-Giving, Not Self-Erasing

It’s true that agape love gives without expecting return (Luke 6:35). But even Paul said:

“I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?” —2 Corinthians 12:15

Paul expressed his pain at being underappreciated. That honesty is not rebellion—it’s reality.

3.

There’s a Difference Between Investing and Enabling

God calls us to sow into people—but not to throw pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6), not to stay in draining cycles that rob us of joy, health, or calling.

“Guard your heart with all diligence…” —Proverbs 4:23

“Do not grow weary in doing good…” —Galatians 6:9

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” —Matthew 22:39

That as yourself part matters. If you’re constantly emptied with no replenishing, even love can become twisted into burnout.