What is love? It's a call to action.
Guest Post by Ben Byrum
How do you define love? What is love?
As Christians, when looking for answers to big questions like these, we should consult what the Bible has to say on the matter.
Providentially, the Bible provides a passage in 1 Corinthians widely known as the love chapter – 1 Corinthians 13. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 in my ESV translation, this word “love” is used 4 times, but is implied throughout.
It would be highly inaccurate for us in today’s world to take our definition(s) of the word love, apply it to these verses, and then think we accurately understand what it means. Indeed, our modern-day definitions of this word totally miss the mark of its original meaning. We misuse love, overuse love, and love has become watered down.
In the original Greek Bible, the Greek word used for love in this passage is "agape."
Agape is a form of personal sacrifice and service, intentionally desiring the absolute best for another person. The late Dallas Willard (an American philosopher and Christian author on spiritual formation) said that agape is to will the good of another. Within Christianity, agape is unconditional love. Agape is the highest form of love and is the kind of love God has for man and of man for God.
The Apostle Paul (the author of 1 Corinthians) gives us an amazing description of agape. The way that he describes agape, it:
1. Is something
2. Is not something
3. Does something
Let’s start with what Paul says agape is. Paul says that agape is 2 things:
Agape is:
- Patient
- Kind
Now let’s look at what it isn’t:
Agape is not:
- Envious
- Boastful
- Arrogant
- Rude
- Insistent on its own way
- Irritable
- Resentful
- Joyful in wrongdoing
Now let’s move to what love does:
Agape Does:
- Rejoice with the truth
- Bear all things
- Believe all things
- Hope all things
- Endure all things
- Never end or never fail
With this understanding of agape in mind, let’s now read the 1 Corinthians 13 passage beginning in verse 1. There are various things one can do, including giving all that we own to the poor, but if we don’t have agape, it means absolutely nothing.
In 2020, when quarantine and racial protests swept our country,
social media was a cesspool; however, one thing in particular caught my
attention. I kept seeing this certain set of photos circulate across
multiple platforms. Essentially, the photos attempted to explain that
our country did not need love at all, that Jesus couldn’t change hearts,
and that God could essentially leave Himself out of it. People wanted
no part of God or love during such a time as that one.
In 1 John 4:7&8, it says, "Beloved,
let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has
been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know
God, because God is love." I’ll let you in on a little secret. Do you want to guess the original Greek word used for love in 1 John 4:7&8? Agape!
God is agape.
God is love.
I can’t help but think that those social media posts are wrong and
spreading false information about our God because frankly, who is God,
then, if He is not love? Who is this Jesus we say we believe in if we
are not changed by Him?
In recent years here in America, people
have walked into church buildings, schools, concerts, and other public
venues and have shot and killed people. Those are actions that are not
loving.
Road rage shootings are happening in higher volume in the city where I live. Tensions are continuing to build in Ukraine and Russia and other countries. These are all actions which are not loving.
Agape is not present.
Agape
requires us to act for the intentional betterment of people, because
that’s what God calls us to do and because that’s how He loves us.
Agape is not passive, but rather, agape forces us off of our seat, forces us off the sidelines and into the action of life.
I’m
convinced that love, specifically, agape, is the answer to a lot of
things for this reason: you can have an action without love, but you
cannot have love without action.
I’ll say it this way – you can
have an action without agape, but you cannot have agape without action.
Showing others the love of Jesus Christ requires that we abide in Him
and it requires action.
 |
Ben Byrum is a devotional writer for Stand Firm magazine, published by Lifeway Christian Resources. He is also a student of the Truett Seminary Online Certificate Program; a current student at Dallas Theological Seminary’s Houston extension campus; and an aspiring chaplain. He and his wife of 8 years met at Baylor University and live in Houston, Texas. |
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
-
What is love? It's a call to action.
What is love? It's a call to action. Guest post by Ben Byrum.
-
Miraculous Physical Healing Explains Salvation: The Truth of Jesus’ Salvation
If you have stage 4 pancreatic cancer, then with current medical technology you have likely not been given any hope for getting better. Your cancer is terminal. In fact, with many diseases...
-
Does Science Argue For or Against God?
Probability of the Universe Existing in Coin Flips: Flipping a coin has a 50/50 chance of heads vs tails. How many times do you think you could flip heads in a row with a 50/50 chance?
-
Man Finds Single Ominous Bible Page in Wildfire Aftermath
Wildfires in Tennessee have temporarily displaced thousands of people fleeing from the destruction. Over 100 homes have been destroyed, as well as hotels and businesses. Thus far, seven people...
-
How to Obey God's Will
Obeying God's will is actually more simple than it seems. The truth is that some actions are good (holy), some actions are bad (sinful), and the majority of actions are completely neutral...
-
Doubting After God Answers Your Prayers
Having God answer your prayers can result in overwhelming feelings of joy, relief, and thankfulness. However, sometimes doubt of God's intervention can appear and begin to steal your confidence...
-
How to Prove God Exists
For unbelievers, there are only a few ways to prove that God exists, depending on how willing they are to accept God's existence. For unbelievers who are...
-
The Lie of Sanctification
Sanctification is a widely accepted belief that bridges the gap between the biblical mandate for obedience to God and the practical application of living a Christian life as...
-
God's Definition of Perfect
"Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." One of the problems with modern Christianity is the mainstream concept that "It is impossible to be perfect."
-
Is it Okay for Christians to Sue Others?
When someone owes us money or has taken something away from us, often courts of law are necessary to recover what was lost. However, is it okay for Christians to sue others?
Copyright © 2011- – Messiah-of-God.com™ KE Cornerstone
All Rights Reserved
Privacy Policy and Affiliate Disclosure
Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
