Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, I thought I would take a biblical look at "Love". Love is an intentional, active sport. It is not mere lip service of telling someone "I Love You" (although that never hurts). True biblical love is much more that what is represented by society ever Feb 14th.
There are 4 words in the Greek Language for love. The first is "Eros" and I would imagine it is where the word "erotic" comes from because this kind of love is a physical, sexual kind of love. Since this love is not mentioned directly in the Bible I won't go into more details. I think you get the point what kind of love this is.
The second Greek word is Agape which refers to the love of God, one of the kinds of love we are to have for people. Agape is the very nature of God, for God is love (1 John 4:7-12). The big key to understanding agape is to realize that it can be known from the action it prompts. In fact, we sometimes speak of the “action model” of agape love. People today are accustomed to thinking of love as a feeling, but that is not necessarily the case with agape love. Agape is love because of what it does, not because of how it feels.
God so “loved” (agape) that He gave His Son. It did not feel good to God to do that, but it was the loving thing to do. Christ so loved (agape) that he gave his life. He did not want to die, but he loved, so he did what God required. A mother who loves a sick baby will stay up all night long caring for it, which is not something she wants to do, but is a true act of agape love.
The point is that agape love is not simply an impulse generated from feelings. Rather, agape love is an exercise of the will, a deliberate choice. This is why God can command us to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44; Exod. 23:1-5). He is not commanding us to “have a good feeling” for our enemies, but to act in a loving way toward them. Agape love is related to obedience and commitment, and not necessarily feeling and emotion. “Loving” someone is to obey God on another’s behalf, seeking his or her long-term blessing and profit.
The way to know that we love (agape) God is that we keep His commandments. Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me…” (John 14:21a). There are Christians who say they love God, but their lifestyle is contrary to the will of God. These people mistake their feeling of affection for God for true agape love. Jesus made this clear: “He who does not love me will not obey my teaching…” (John 14:24).
Love is the distinctive character of the Christian life in relation to other Christians and to all humanity. The “loving” thing to do may not always be easy, and true love is not “mushy sentimentalism.” There is often a cost to genuine love. For example, punishing criminals to keep society safe is loving but not easy or pleasant, and asking someone to leave your Christian fellowship because he persists in flagrant sin is loving, but never easy (1 Cor. 5:1-5). That is not to say the agape love cannot have feelings attached to it, and the ideal situation occurs when the loving thing to do also is what we want to do. Christians are to be known for their love to one another (John 13:35).
The third word for “love” we need to examine is phileo, which means “to have a special interest in someone or something, frequently with focus on close association; have affection for, like, consider someone a friend.” It would probably be helpful if phileo were never translated “love” in the New Testament, because it refers to a strong liking or a strong friendship. Of course, we see how phileo gets translated “love,” because in modern culture we say we “love” things that we strongly like: “I love ice cream,” “I love my car,” “I love the way your hair looks,” etc. The word phileo implies a strong emotional connection, and thus is used of the “love,” or deep friendship, between friends. You can agape your enemies, but you cannot phileo them.
The fourth Greek word we need to understand is storge, which is the love and affection that naturally occurs between parents and children, can exist between siblings, and exists between husbands and wives in a good marriage. It occurs in Romans 12:10 in the word, philostorgos, which is a compound word made up of philos (the noun form of phileo) and storge. Romans 12:10 is a very important verse, directing us to be very loving and kind to each other.
Romans 12:10 As to your brotherly love, let there be deep friendship and family-affection toward one another.
If one is going to have a wonderful Christian life, obedient to the voice of God and have rich fellowship with other Christians, he or she will need to exercise all three kinds of love. We need agape love because some of the things that God requires of us are not fun or easy, but need to be done. We need to have phileo love because we need true friends to stand with us, people who are emotionally connected to us and with whom we can share our deepest thoughts and feelings. Lastly, we Christians need to have storge love between us, a deep family affection that comforts us and helps us feel connected to all our spiritual family.
The A,B,C,D's of love Jesus' way.
A. Selflessly: Jesus “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matt. 20:28). Our love should not be centered on what someone can do for us, but how we can bless him or her.
B. Understandingly: Jesus knew the limitations of His followers, which is one reason He was able to have compassion on their failings. We should show the same consideration for those who mistreat us or live sinfully. There is always a reason why people rebel against God. Trying to understand doesn’t change their guilt before Him, but it can help you love more freely. Following the Lord’s example means learning to see people as they are and caring for them anyway.
C. Forgivingly: There are countless ways we can take offense at what others do or say. Forgiveness isn’t usually easy, but someone who genuinely loves will also be forgiving. At the next opportunity to extend mercy, we should remember that Jesus was willing to cleanse us of all our sins. Also, hanging on to bitterness and resentment will negatively affect our health, not just our relationships with God and the offender.
D. Sacrificially: In Mark 8:43, Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” The highest form of love is to lay your life down for another. Genuine love almost always involves some level of sacrifice. That doesn’t mean we must give in to all the demands of others; instead, we should seek to give them what will ultimately be most beneficial.
Test time.
Question. Can people tell you are a Christian without you having to say it? John 13:34-35 says "A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, so you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another."
1 Corinthians 13:1 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."
It is interesting that the King James translates the word love as "charity".
So, if you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
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