THE DEFINITION OF LOVE

PROCLAMATION

“…  But do not have love, I am nothing … Love is patient, love is kind … it does not envy … boast … dishonor others … it is not self-seeking … it keeps no record of wrongs … It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”  1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Corinth.  In this chapter Paul wrote to them concerning love.  He began by saying that without love, even the most eloquent of words is just noise. (1 Corinthians 13:1)  He said that if he had the gifts of prophecy, knowledge, and faith, that without love he was nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2)  Even if he gave all that he had to the poor, without love it does him no good. (1 Corinthians 13:3)  Then he goes on to describe love by saying what it is and what it is not.  Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)  He ends by saying that with respect to the three most important things in the life of a believer, faith, hope, and love, that the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

 

APPLICATION

It is difficult to define “love” and the definition in the dictionary leaves a lot to be desired.  Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines love as a “strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties”.  It also gives eight other definitions, all of which relate to feelings.  In this chapter Paul provides us with displays of love and descriptions of what love is and what it isn’t, and what love does and doesn’t do.  Love is all-consuming and involves the whole person including the heart, (1 Corinthians 13:1) the mind, (1 Corinthians 13:2) and the will of the involved person. (1 Corinthians 13:3)  Love is the fruit of The Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)  This love is the agape kind of love, not the brotherly love, “phileo”, or the passion lustful eros type of love.  It is the divine love, the love of God.  Without the love of God our gifts and talents are worthless.  The love of God is perfected within us as we keep and obey His Holy Word. (1 John 2:5)  There is no fear in love.  Perfect love of God casts out fear. (1 John 4:18)  God is love.  Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God lives within them. (1 John 4:16)  As believers, we are commanded to love one another. (John 13:34-35)  Anyone who claims to love God and yet hates his brother is a liar. (1 John 4:20-21)