Many people struggle to accurately describe love. Love is such an abstract concept, and it’s not like we can touch it. We can feel it, though, and express the sensation to the best of our ability. Artists and writers have tried to define the experience through pictures of Bible stories and personal stories of finding enlightenment through the feeling of another’s love. And that’s how God shows us love every single day. Love is not so much a feeling as an action. Want to understand love? Develop meaningful relationships and show love toward others like God does to us.
“We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4: 8)”
Why does God give us love?
Through Him, all things are possible, including eternal love here on Earth. But why exactly does God bestow the wonders of love upon us?
God gives us love as a way to keep us on track and focused on the good in life instead of sin. See, when we are enthralled with love, the highest gift of all, the earthly temptations that we encounter every day become less tempting. Instead of coveting our neighbors goods or feeling angry, we’re too busy with love to focus on the other noise that can take us away from God’s ultimate plan, which, in its simplest terms, is love.
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
Not only does God give us love to motivate us toward good, but he also gives us love as it’s the easiest way for us to connect to God and experience Him in a way outside of the terrestrial limitations of the planet. Some people claim to feel close to God in a church pew, but they probably really feel the love. Others may claim to feel close to God when they see their child for the first time. Once again, this is God’s love manifested in the form of a child.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)
Who should we love?
First and foremost, we love our partners and our families. These are the people who support us at all times. Therefore, we owe them love. Husbands and wives should show each other love and children should also show their parents love.
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25)
Naturally, we need to love those who show us love first. We should also love our neighbors. However, God requires more from us. He even requires us to love our enemies. When someone does us wrong, whether in business or in love, we need to show them compassion. Remember, those who hurt probably hurt even more themselves.
“You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:43-48)
How to love
Many people forget that love works both ways. Not only do you have to open your own heart to love, but you need to know others love, too. In order to show love, it starts with a positive attitude toward others that transcends earthly possessions or merits where we see each other as God’s creatures as opposed earthly slaves to our carnal desires. We all make mistakes and fail from time to time. However, love means understanding that we all have faults and seeing the good in each other instead of the bad.
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it 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. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Prayer
God, thank you for the joys of love you have gifted us, whether it be in the form of family, church members, or your own presence in our lives. Let us value and prioritize this love as the most important thing – more important than money or pride – so that we can let us guide us in our daily activities. Thank you. Humbly before you, we pray. Amen.