Love: A Glance at the Definition, its Importance, and What Makes it Work.

As I was glancing over my Facebook mini-feed as I so often do, I couldn't help but notice all of the status updates about love and bustling changes of relationship statuses occurring. As I also tend to often to, I chuckled to myself when I saw each emotional display of e-ffection (Get it? har har). Maybe I chuckle because I just don't believe it because it was about a different person two weeks ago, or perhaps just because it's on Facebook, or maybe because I'm a heartless ice queen. It may be a healthy mixture of all three, but either way it made me begin to actually think about love. You may say, "Erin, what the heck do you know about love?"....which is a fair question, because the answer is--not much. What I do know is that there's a perfect blue print for love in the Bible, and that is exactly where I went to investigate. As I began to think further about love, I began to pose many questions: What is love exactly? How do you know when you love someone? How powerful is love, really? Why am I laughing at all of this? Is it that I don't even believe in love? If love is so great, why does it hurt so many people? I find it funny that I'm constantly surrounded by the concept of love, but found it unimportant to investigate and truly put into perspective what love is and how it works. Here's a few things I noted:

The Bible indicates that love is from God. In fact, the Bible says "God is love."

The Greek language (the language of the New Testament) uses two different words to describe and define love. The most commonly used Greek word translated "love" in the New Testament is "agape." This love is represented by God's love for us. It is a non-partial, sacrificial love probably best exemplified by God's provision for our rebellion:

"For God so loved (agape) the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

The gift of God's son as a provision for sin4 was given to all humans,regardless of who we are.God's love is unconditional.

In contrast, our love is usually conditional and based upon how other people behave toward us. This kind of love is based upon familiarity and direct interaction. The Greek word "phileo" defines this kind of love, often translated "brotherly love." Phileo is a soulish (connected through our emotions) kind of love - something that can be experienced by both believers and non-believers. This is in contrast to agape, which is love extended through the spirit. Agape love requires a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, since the non-regenerated soul is unable to love unconditionally. Agape love gives and sacrifices expecting nothing back in return.

In Peter's second epistle, he says that we are to behave with moral excellence. However, this is not enough. Christians tend to be characterized by non-believers as telling other people how they ought to behave. However, the Christian life should not be restricted to just moral excellence, but, above all else, should include both phileo and agape love:

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness [phileo], and in your brotherly kindness, love [agape]. (2 Peter 1:5-7)

The most famous biblical chapter on love is from 1 Corinthians:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

This is a description of apage love. It is described as being patient, kind, truthful, unselfish, trusting, believing, hopeful, and enduring. It is not jealous, boastful, arrogant, rude, selfish, or angry. True love never fails. The description perfectly fits God's love toward us, and should be the way we love each other and God.

The Bible says that this unconditional love is more important than everything else (a partial list includes oratory ability, prophecy, knowledge, faith, philanthropy and hope). All of these things, which are "good" things, will pass away. Only love is eternal, since love will be the basis of eternal life. In fact, when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He said, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND." (Matthew 22:37 He then added that the second most important law was "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Jesus said that the entire law was dependent upon these two commandments.


NOW THIS MAKES SENSE TO ME! I think too often we separate romantic love from that of all other kinds of love, or through the English language we have corrupted the true, or Biblical meaning of love. Romantic love, or love that I see stemming from an emotional surge or infatuation must be merged with the love that is defined by the Word of God. Love then becomes a continual decision rather than a feeling. What is true love then? What is a love that never fails? Love is basically caring in action. The Bible explains that God is love. Wow. Think about it. God is the embodiment of love, therefore think of the extreme power and immense importance the concept of love holds. I've learned that not only is love great...it is the GREATEST! Jesus said it himself. The two greatest commandments are to first love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. How simple--Love God, love people...yet we make it so complicated. The world would be transformed if we TRULY loved God and TRULY loved people according to what it says in the Bible. That passage from 1 Corinthians is so powerful--it explains that without love, we are nothing. I've come to the conclusion that because I'm emotionally awkward--I was tripping over the facade of love rather than focusing on the power of love. So it's not that I was chuckling because I don't believe in love--perhaps I just find the emotionality of love to be funny and sometimes ironic. I truly do believe in the power of love, because the "doing" part of love is much of the backbone of my faith. In fact, I see that living without love is impossible and rather undesirable if you ask me. Love is love whether it is your parents, your significant other, your friend, or God, and will be unfailing if it is done in the way the Bible explains. It is obvious to me now that just seeking the definition will tell you whether you are exuding love towards someone and whether someone is doing the same to you. This definition also makes me realize how often we take advantage of those we supposedly love, and we must continually practice love rather than simply saying it. It's a "you love them? let me see how you choose to treat them" scenario. How lucky are we not only to have the love of God, but also the capacity to love and be loved? When we show love or are loved, it's like sharing a bit of the who God is with someone...Now that is awesome!!! The unselfishness and caring that the defines love is what separates it from infatuation and the definitive words like ALWAYS, DOES NOT, and NEVER show that love truly is a decision that needs to be practiced and consistent. So now that we've explored the definition of love and everything it entails, let us be thankful for those who truly love us, and for God, who first loved us!

Keep it classy!

Erin Glynn