WHAT IS LOVE, REALLY?

"The Little Prince" asks the meaning
of love. Image credit: 
https://www.columbiaarts.org/
events/the-little-prince/

What is love? Paul tackles that in 1 Corinthians. 

As I read about it, this came to mind: what is the opposite of love?

Self-indulgence? Selfishness? Arrogance? Envy? Hatred? Anger? Rebellion? 

Not one word qualifies but all of them seem to make up the whole bunch of what love is not all about. And what they're a product of. 

They are varying degrees of what love is not. Self-indulgence leads to selfishness to arrogance to envy to hatred to anger to rebellion as one's self-esteem gets provoked by pride. The Bible cautions us again and again about not falling into any of these. 

The best cure-all antidote? Love! 

I love the way Paul tackles it in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

"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."

Noticed something? Paul did not talk about sensual or physical love. Because God is the source of love. Its object is our greatest good—to save us from perishing and make us enjoy eternity with Him. 

"For God SO LOVED The world that He gave His only begotten Son, but whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life," John 3:16.

Love comes full circle in God! So it could/should never be used as an excuse for self-indulgence, or extra-marital or same sex relationships—which the Lord cautions us against. 

Because love used against itself leads to many more waywardness—carousing, rebellion, division of families, destruction of lives. The meaning of love has so been perverted in our current generation that many among the young no longer recognize love for what it truly is. 

God is love! (1John 4:8)

Apart from God's intention, love becomes a perversion—contrary to everything He is. Only through His Word can we truly love. 

Oh that we may teach our children to love God and His Word so that as they mature and develop relationships outside of the family, they may love the way God wants them to love. And live within His grace!