Love, Part One

One [odd] hobby I enjoy is contemplating the definition of words. My favorites are common ones that we all use and yet struggle to concisely define when asked. Today I look at the biggest one of all: love.

Of course, the word 'love' has different meanings. You can love a person romantically, as a friend, or as a neighbor. You can love a hobby or a sports team or a food. Today, I'll focus on the general love the Bible calls us to show to every person (some call this 'agape' love). And I will focus on how the Scriptures define it.

First, love is inextricably tied to commandment. In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus makes it clear that the great commandment is to love God and others; he says "on these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets" [by which he means the Old Testament]. We see it elsewhere, too, that the Law is summarized by love (see Romans 13:9-10). Further, we're told in several places (including John 14:15) that if we love God we will keep his commandments (which include the summary of the law, the Ten Commandments). And people will know we are his disciples if we love (John 13:34-35); it is one fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22).

So the command to love is paramount . . . but what does that mean? What does love look like? What is love?* The Bible talks a lot about it, and focuses on a few themes. In no particular order:

- Love involves actions, and provides the world's goods to those in need (1 John 3:16-18)

- Love is selfless; it involves giving and sacrifice. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son (John 3:16). Walking in love means giving ourselves up as Christ did (Ephesians 5:2). Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

- Love is not based on merit or reciprocation; God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). We are to love our enemies, as God does (Matthew 5:43-48). We are to expect nothing in return; as God is kind to the ungrateful and evil, so should we be (Luke 6:35).

- There is an affectative component. We are to love one another with brotherly affection (Romans 12:10). In this sense, we are called to actually like others. The Lord rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17); He doesn't care for us begrudgingly. 

- Love builds up; it encourages (1 Corinthians 8:1)

- Part of love is doing the above things in a certain way: Love is patient, kind, doesn't envy or boast, is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. (1 Corinthians 13:4-6)

- Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7). That means it bears and endures the wrongs done by others and it believes/hopes the best.

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The above are just a sample of the Scriptures, and it covers a lot. So can we summarize? 

Love is the self-sacrificial and self-forgetful care for and building up of others demonstrated by action, affection, attitude, endurance, and optimism. Does that cover it? Do we do this? Such a high bar. Humbling. Lord, teach us to love.

Next time, I will look at what AI says. 

*anyone else get that 1993 song by Haddaway in your head? Me too. I'm sorry.