As a Christian man, I’m almost ashamed to admit one of my guilty pleasures is watching a popular dating franchise. I like to see some of the creative date ideas. Yes, I admit I’m a hopeless romantic.
It’s also a good opportunity to get some insights into what the opposite sex thinks about love. It’s true; each person is different with a different idea of love.
- Feelings
- Sex
- Gifts
Love really does mean different things to each one of us. When I was in my 20s I read and studied the five love languages. How we view love will influence how we live our lives.
In the 80s Tina Turner asked a generation, “What’s love got to do it?” Even as a child I understood love is an important part of life. Turns out there are still a lot of people who still don’t understand love.
What’s Love
The question has been asked by men and women alike almost since the beginning of time. While everyone has a different perspective, the only answer that is certain is we all desire to love and to be loved.
Whether people want to believe it or not, God created us to love, we are created in His image and He is love (4:7). But, what is love?
Let’s look at what it isn’t. It’s not a synonym for liking a lot. It isn’t something we treat casually. It isn’t a selfish pleasure we can abuse. It isn’t a word we casually say and quickly forget, because, love has meaning to those with it and those who want it.
What It Means
The dictionary defines love as, “A strong feeling of warmth and personal attachment.” The world has its own set of values, but God’s people understand godly love is different, so our purpose cannot be pleasure or a fickle feeling. The Bible contains numerous words for love, each with a different meaning.
Most of us know the New Testament references four different types of love. But, the biblical idea of love goes much deeper, let’s start with the New Testament.
- Eros (sexual or romantic)
- Storge (familial)
- Philia (friendly)
- Agape (Godly love)
Hebrew Love
The Old Testament uses the Hebrew word Ahavah to describe the affection and care a person shows to another, in marriage, parenting, and finally God’s love for His people.
In Judaism, God loves Israel because of who He is, not because of who Israel is. His love cannot be earned, it’s simply the nature of God to love. God’s love is a gift to His people (Psalm 86:15).
Love Is a Gift
In Christianity, we believe we receive God’s love by grace. His love is a gift and unconditional once we accept it (1 John 4:7). The Gospels also described the relationship between Jesus and the church as a marriage (2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:24-32).
God’s love and grace go hand-in-hand and neither can be earned because they are gifts from a loving God and His heart for His people. The Apostle Paul breaks God’s love down into its key components (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
- Patience
- Kindness
- Unselfishness
John tells us that God gave His only Son as a gift to the world because of God’s love (John 3:16). Jesus showed us how to love by humbling Himself and giving his life on the cross.
God’s sacrifice was foreshadowed by the Jewish patriarch Abraham and his near sacrifice of offering his son as a gift. Abraham’s and God’s willingness to give contradicts this world’s idea of love. You see, love has a lot to do with it!
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