LOVE – a combination of four simple letters yet arguably, the most complicated phenomenon ever to happen to man.
If a question such as “Has the meaning of love changed” exists, it means therefore that there are doubts as to the original meaning of love.
The question then is “What is the original meaning of love?”
Before delving into this question, let’s look at a few variations of the word – love
- “Love is a feeling that you feel when you feel that feeling that you’ve never felt before.”
- “Love is giving my virginity to my bf because he claims to love me.”
- “Love is how he walks, how he talks, how he smiles, his arms. Oh! How I love the way he holds me!”
All of these and many more are various variations that seem to exist as a definition of this phenomenon – Love.
It is pertinent to note, however, that love transcends feelings.
Love transcends emotions. Love goes way beyond feelings to actions, decisions, and commitments. Feelings fade. Emotions are fickle. When you claim to love someone based on how you feel only, such won’t last. Because as soon as those feelings fade, you are on to the next person.
Herein is what LOVE consists.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend.”
John 15:13
In both verses above, we see a love that is true, a love that is pure, and a love that GIVES. Love is sacrifice.
God sacrificed his only son for you and me so we can be saved. Jesus gave (sacrificed) his life for the world in order that we (the world) might be saved.
Love GIVES.
Love is not dependent on what or how one feels.
It is not dependent on the actions of the other person.
Rather, love gives.
It seeks the best of and for the other person.
Love transcends one’s self.
This is the greatest love story ever told, a God who seats in heaven and makes the earth his footstool loves the world so much that he sacrificed his only son for the people of the world.
“But God commended (showed) his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Pause. Read this again.
Remember the question, what then is the original meaning of love? Here you go…
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, 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.”
In this season of love, I implore you to receive the life of Christ, the one who loves you so much that he died for your sins.
Having this understanding, go on to love people and express this God-given love unto others.
Namaste!
What would you define love as?
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