| What Is Love? The word “love” means something different to everyone. Some awful things have been called “love.” Religious people speak of “Christian love.” The key-note of the New Age movement is “love.” There was “free love” in the 1970’s. Television, movies, novels and popular songs depict their version of love. Everyone says, “I love you;” everyone talks about love. But none of these is what God is talking about when he says “love.” There are indeed different types of genuine love. Romance, affection and appreciation are not counterfeits—although they have been grossly perverted, they were designed by the great Creator and are good in their pure form and appropriate place and circumstance. The New Testament was written in Greek. There were three common words in the Greek language for love: eros, phileos, and storge (roughly denoting romantic love, the love and appreciation of friends, and the love and affection of parents and children). There was even a parable that taught that the highest from of love was to die for someone worthy, to appreciate good people. But God’s definition of his life-giving love is so different from what most of us think love is that the Bible writers used a totally different word for it—the Greek word agape[180]. In modern speech, we might call it self-sacrificing love—a love that seeks the benefit, well-being and happiness of another individual, despite the consequences to oneself. It is unconditional love, not based on worth or merit. While we might not feel romance or affection towards someone at every given moment, agape is a consistent attitude or posture that is not dependent on mood, feeling, or situation. God defines what he means by “love” in I Corinthians 13:4-5: “Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him... Love is eternal.”[181] The More Excellent Way[182] Let’s analyze this love point by point as the apostle Paul breaks it down for us: “I may be able to speak the languages of men and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell. I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains—but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned—but if I have no love, this does me no good.”[183] Many people believe they are Christians because of their extensive knowledge of the Bible and its doctrines. Some give generously to charity and think they are “racking up points” with God. Yet according to the Love Chapter’s introduction, you could even go so far as to die a martyr—and still be lost! On the outside, they look unselfish and loving; but “the LORD looks at the heart—”[184] the motives behind the actions. Good works do not in themselves make someone a good person—its the motive that counts. The motives of the carnal heart’s love are all self-centered. The acts themselves look good, but the motive behind the actions is selfish. They may appear to be unselfish, but all its giving is tied to “the barter system”— “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine!” It is based on the principle of “What’s in it for me? How does this benefit me?” They may appear to be giving, but they only so they will have the “right” to take. Self-sacrificing love is not co-dependency. Love does not have any ulterior motives or hidden agendas. Its gifts do not require an obligational response—they are freely given, with no strings attached. The only motive is the welfare, benefit and happiness of the object of its love. |
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| 180 pronounced uh GAH pay 181 The Living Bible 182 I Corinthians 12:31 183 I Corinthians 13:1-3 184 I Samuel 16:7 |
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