Love

2021-10-06

Love is something that everyone seemingly wants, but most are not sure what it is. Our culture tells us it is some sort of emotional feeling. We also start to believe that it is tied to romantic relationships and finding a soulmate.

That concept is at best not emphasized in the Bible. Usually, there are two types of love discussed. One is the love that is often referred to as brotherly love and has the same root as the word for friend (φίλος). The other is self-sacrificing service to another person (αγάπη). These definitions are important because, if you want true love, you need to look to these, not the movies.

You cannot love someone without action. Jesus told us, “Greater love (αγάπη) hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (φίλος)” (John 15:13). That is exactly what Jesus did, too. Note that both types of love are mentioned here. This tells me that the two types of love are related. If you have a friend, you will love him to the point of death. You will pour out your life for him.

In 1 Corinthians 13, we see that love, also translated charity, makes complete deference to the person who is loved. It is utmost humility, seeing the other better than oneself.

If you dispense with what the world tells you, you will see that this is the manner of love you desire. Human beings can only love imperfectly. What you are really looking for is in the person of Jesus Christ. If you are trying to find true and perfect love in something or someone else, you will be both disappointed and misguided. It would also be unfair to the other person, because you look to them to provide something they cannot perfectly give you.

Jesus said that the lover dies for the loved. However, He demonstrated a love that is far greater. “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:7-8). Jesus died for enemies. Those enemies were us. He received the penalty of our sins on the cross. He rose again, giving us the hope of eternal life. We are called to do likewise: “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44).

It sounds extreme, but this is what normal Christianity is.