Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Love is patient and kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4
You be the judge: Are the people who make these statements megaconfused about the meaning of true love?
“I love my new outfit.”
“I love that new band, the Brain-dead Tsetse Flies.”
“I love how my dog flies through the air when I throw him a Frisbee.”
Looking at that list you might get the idea that love could mean any sort of affection for just about anything. So what in the world do people mean when they say they love something or someone? What is true love anyway?
Hearing humans talk about true love can get pretty confusing. But one look at the Bible shows that God doesn’t have any problem defining true love.
Let’s start with what true love isn’t.
True love as the Bible defines it isn’t just about feelings. It isn’t merely a strong emotion or attraction. In fact, love as it is described in the Bible isn’t based on sight, looks, romance, or warm fuzzy feelings. You might be thrilled beyond words to do math problems until your eyes sag shut. But you might want to come up with another word besides “love” to describe that crazed emotion!
Just because real biblical love isn’t about feelings doesn’t mean that it will make you miserable. It produces strong feelings. But our feelings come and go like the wind, depending on our mood. So true love is something more.
If that’s what true love isn’t, here’s what true love is.
• Love is spelled G-I-V-E. It is always giving.
• Love shows respect for one another.
• Love has no conditions for acceptance.
• Love is realistic. It doesn’t live in a dream world.
• Love takes responsibility for its loved one.
• Love is demonstrated in a sustained commitment.
• Love never stops growing.
The more we understand what God’s Word has to say about true love, the more love we’ll have to share.
TALK: So how do your attitudes and expectations of love measure up to this biblical definition of love?
PRAY: God, teach me to love—to really love as you defined it.
ACT: Muzzle your mouth—at least for today—when you use “love” to mean something less than true love!
