What is love?
In our modern generation, many might say that it has to do with acceptance regardless of if we agree or not. That sounds really amazing at first glance, but how about we take a deeper look at the word love and see what the Word of God shows us about love.
Webster’s Dictionary gives us this definition of Love… “a (1) : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternal love for a child> (2) : attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3): affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests <love for his old schoolmates>b : an assurance of affection <give her my love>”
But does this really give the word Love justice? It’s so simple, so plain. There is so much more to Love that people just don’t seem to grasp in today’s world. In the Bible if we go back to the Greek language we get 4 different words that mean different types of Love.
Eros is an erotic love. It longs for passion and fulfillment more often than not based on body chemistry with a partner. This is a more selfish love because you’re pleasure is directed at yourself.
Storge is a type of love that has its basis on one’s own nature. In other words, it is a nature affection or obligation that we may have towards something. A natural movement of the soul for husband, wife, child or dog.
Phileo is a companionable love. This love more typically of affection or liking someone or something. This is usually a response to kindness, appreciation or love. It involves giving as well as receiving, but when it is greatly strained, it can collapse in a crisis.
Agape is called out of one’s heart by the preciousness of the object loved. It is a love of esteem, of evaluation. It has the idea of prizing. It is the noblest word for love in the Greek language. It isn’t kindled by the merit or worth of an object.
Now we have examined six different interpretations one could use for the word love. This goes so much deeper than the first glance we got from the typical world view or Webster’s Dictionary. Love is complex and mysterious but I can rest in knowing that in my opinion, Agape love is the greatest definition that I feel truly expresses how we are supposed to love, even if we mess up and fall short. This love is unconditional and will never cease at the end of time; it is eternal just like our Heavenly Father. God is Love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-12
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
