A Meditation on Love for Valentines Day

As you probably know, there are several words for love in the Greek language. The word agape is the most commonly used word for love in the N.T. It is a love that has a sacrificial nature. It puts others before itself, dismisses all pride and all self-glory. John 3:16 is a good example of this sacrificial tone that defines agape – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Secular Greek literature does not use this word very often, because it contradicts much of what by nature we do – we look out for #1. Agape gives to others without thought of self. Stuart Scott in a book addressed to husbands called The Exemplary Husband says that “Love is a selfless and enduring commitment of the will to care about and benefit another person by righteous, truthful, and compassionate thoughts, words and action.” Agape is proven when someone is more concerned about what they can give than what they get. It doesn’t require reciprocation; nor does it evaluate whether the object of one’s love is worthy of it.

In love, there is empathy, compassion, and joy. It is an emotion that produces action. In I Corinthians 13:4-7, consider how many of those descriptions of love are expressed as emotions – patience, kindness, not arrogant, not easily provoked, not rejoicing in unrighteous behavior, and rejoicing in the truth. Love is an action and an emotion.

Now, since God is love (I John 4:16) and those who abide in Him are abiding in love, the simplest and most profound characteristic of a Christian should be love. Like pride is the root of all sorts of sin, love is the roof of all sorts of righteousness. In fact, you could say that pride and love are opposites – one benefits others; the other benefits self.

J.C. Ryle called love the “Queen of Christian graces” (Practical Religion) because it likens us to God, is useful to others and will endure forever. Jesus summarized the whole law when He said God and your neighbor are to be the objects of your love.

As Christians, we are to be known by our love for one other (John 13:34-35). It is a form of witness. It is a virtue that is the evidence that we are walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). 19x in the N.T., we are commended to agape one another. We are continually called to die to self – for God’s glory and other’s benefit (Philippians 1:9). That is agape, and that is what Paul is calling all of us to in I Corinthians 13.