Originally Posted - Wednesday, March 16, 2011
LOVE has been on my mind a lot lately. LOVE ! What is it? The word has been debated for centuries, inspired through poetry, portrayed in movies, some claim to have killed over it and some have died to protect it. Is love an action or feeling? Are there different types of love? Is one love more Godly than other love and what does the bible teach about love.
For me love is the unselfish will and desire to put others above you in the pursuit of their happiness and safety. Apostle Paul proclaimed love as being the most important virtue and described love in the famous poem in 1 Corinthians as "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres." (1 Cor. 13:4–7, NIV).
The two entries from above that stood out the most for me were the words “it keeps no record of wrongs” and “always perseveres”. How many of us claim to love each other but can’t or won’t let things go? How many of us take our love away when things don’t go our way as a form of punishment or shame? We all know what love is we’ve demonstrated love towards others and received love from others. Love from a parent is considered to be Agape love (the most selfless and unconditional form of love) mentioned in the bible. However, the highest type of Agape love is not human, but divine which is God’s unconditional love for us. Agape love is demonstrated in courtrooms throughout the world when we witness parents in attendance at their child trial giving support or letting them know they are not alone in some of the most grotesque crimes committed. Agape love is why parents will go hungry so their kids can eat and why parents work 2 or 3 jobs to provide for their children. This is why parents go without new clothes or items they desire to put kids in sporting and other activities because it makes them happy to see their child in events that bring them joy. Agape love is the genuine care and sacrifice a parent will succumb to at the betterment of their children.
So many on facebook and other social sites are so quick to put up scriptures about God and how they praise him yet on a daily basis turn away from their own family out of envy, jealousy and pride. How can one profess to love God so much and despise a sibling or knowingly try to deceive and pit brother against sister or husband against Mother for their own amusement or out of their own insecurities? For those who don’t know…God is love. So why are we; the people created in his image and given the ability to love so out of love with each other? Why isn’t it expressed enough? We are more comfortable talking about sex as a society than about the virtues of true love and the sacrifices made that are willed from love? My answer to those questions: It’s called Sin; the fall of man. Sin by its own nature will make you doubt love and make you afraid of love the one thing that God wants us all to share with each other not just for humanity but to honor him. That is why you can profess to be someone friend openly yet when they receive a blessing your stomach turns sour and you force an insincere smile upon your face to conceal envy and/or jealousy. Platonic or Phileo love between friends is not unconditional by definition but it is love. When you really love you won’t be envious or jealous of anyone because true love delights in others accomplishments and blessings.
I also appreciate M. Scott Peck definition of love and I think it closely goes with the type of love a husband and wife should possess: “Love is not a feeling. Love is an action, an activity. . .Genuine love implies commitment and the exercise of wisdom. . . . love as the will to extend oneself for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth.....true love is an act of will that often transcends ephemeral feelings of love or cathexis, it is correct to say, 'Love is as love does'.”
How many of us profess with deep passion and sincerity that we love our spouse/partner/mate/boyfriend/girlfriend so much yet we feel a sense of power in tearing them apart verbally, physically or emotionally. That can’t be love can it? Granted couples argue and some arguments are ugly. Sometimes things are said but not truly meant. However, when certain behaviors are consistent such as a woman finding pleasure out of telling her man that he aint shit; aint ever gonna be shit, he’s stupid, ignorant, etc that isn’t love that's treachery and vile. The same could be said when a man consistently calls his woman a bitch or tells her she can’t make it without him; she won’t ever find love again because he is all she can get; etc? When you truly love someone don’t you want to see them succeed with you, without you, in spite of you? Don’t you feel a deep concern for their welfare and well-being? That’s love. Love is not spiteful! True love doesn’t stop when you’re left, rejected or disappointed.
I have conversations with God quite often and usually it has to do with affairs of the heart. I’m always asking him why am I such a fool, why am I this way, or why can’t I let go or God help me be a stronger person. Then one day it dawned on me. It’s hard for me to let go of anyone I truly love. It’s not because I expect anything back from them but I’m always concerned about how they are doing? Many times my ex sucked me back in because he had some issue going on. I can’t turn away someone I love because he hurt me 18,000. I just can’t! I’ve tried it and it never works. I don’t care what he has done to me; if something went wrong in his life I was listening and trying to help him come up with a solution. It wasn’t because I wanted him back; it’s because I loved him. True love is constant and consistent; like the tides. However, romantic love goes through stages and changes. Some of us are not in love with people but we still love them platonically; some of us eventually stop loving people all together because of time or other relationships formed.
This may sound like a naïve cliché because the world is full of the Devil but if we could just learn to love one another more boldly, fearlessly and completely without wanting something in return we may experience more of that Agape love God has for us. It won’t be as pure but it would make humanity more blessed. If you can’t find it in your heart to love your neighbor or enemy how about loving the ones you do love; better?
For me love is the unselfish will and desire to put others above you in the pursuit of their happiness and safety. Apostle Paul proclaimed love as being the most important virtue and described love in the famous poem in 1 Corinthians as "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres." (1 Cor. 13:4–7, NIV).
The two entries from above that stood out the most for me were the words “it keeps no record of wrongs” and “always perseveres”. How many of us claim to love each other but can’t or won’t let things go? How many of us take our love away when things don’t go our way as a form of punishment or shame? We all know what love is we’ve demonstrated love towards others and received love from others. Love from a parent is considered to be Agape love (the most selfless and unconditional form of love) mentioned in the bible. However, the highest type of Agape love is not human, but divine which is God’s unconditional love for us. Agape love is demonstrated in courtrooms throughout the world when we witness parents in attendance at their child trial giving support or letting them know they are not alone in some of the most grotesque crimes committed. Agape love is why parents will go hungry so their kids can eat and why parents work 2 or 3 jobs to provide for their children. This is why parents go without new clothes or items they desire to put kids in sporting and other activities because it makes them happy to see their child in events that bring them joy. Agape love is the genuine care and sacrifice a parent will succumb to at the betterment of their children.
So many on facebook and other social sites are so quick to put up scriptures about God and how they praise him yet on a daily basis turn away from their own family out of envy, jealousy and pride. How can one profess to love God so much and despise a sibling or knowingly try to deceive and pit brother against sister or husband against Mother for their own amusement or out of their own insecurities? For those who don’t know…God is love. So why are we; the people created in his image and given the ability to love so out of love with each other? Why isn’t it expressed enough? We are more comfortable talking about sex as a society than about the virtues of true love and the sacrifices made that are willed from love? My answer to those questions: It’s called Sin; the fall of man. Sin by its own nature will make you doubt love and make you afraid of love the one thing that God wants us all to share with each other not just for humanity but to honor him. That is why you can profess to be someone friend openly yet when they receive a blessing your stomach turns sour and you force an insincere smile upon your face to conceal envy and/or jealousy. Platonic or Phileo love between friends is not unconditional by definition but it is love. When you really love you won’t be envious or jealous of anyone because true love delights in others accomplishments and blessings.
I also appreciate M. Scott Peck definition of love and I think it closely goes with the type of love a husband and wife should possess: “Love is not a feeling. Love is an action, an activity. . .Genuine love implies commitment and the exercise of wisdom. . . . love as the will to extend oneself for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth.....true love is an act of will that often transcends ephemeral feelings of love or cathexis, it is correct to say, 'Love is as love does'.”
How many of us profess with deep passion and sincerity that we love our spouse/partner/mate/boyfriend/girlfriend so much yet we feel a sense of power in tearing them apart verbally, physically or emotionally. That can’t be love can it? Granted couples argue and some arguments are ugly. Sometimes things are said but not truly meant. However, when certain behaviors are consistent such as a woman finding pleasure out of telling her man that he aint shit; aint ever gonna be shit, he’s stupid, ignorant, etc that isn’t love that's treachery and vile. The same could be said when a man consistently calls his woman a bitch or tells her she can’t make it without him; she won’t ever find love again because he is all she can get; etc? When you truly love someone don’t you want to see them succeed with you, without you, in spite of you? Don’t you feel a deep concern for their welfare and well-being? That’s love. Love is not spiteful! True love doesn’t stop when you’re left, rejected or disappointed.
I have conversations with God quite often and usually it has to do with affairs of the heart. I’m always asking him why am I such a fool, why am I this way, or why can’t I let go or God help me be a stronger person. Then one day it dawned on me. It’s hard for me to let go of anyone I truly love. It’s not because I expect anything back from them but I’m always concerned about how they are doing? Many times my ex sucked me back in because he had some issue going on. I can’t turn away someone I love because he hurt me 18,000. I just can’t! I’ve tried it and it never works. I don’t care what he has done to me; if something went wrong in his life I was listening and trying to help him come up with a solution. It wasn’t because I wanted him back; it’s because I loved him. True love is constant and consistent; like the tides. However, romantic love goes through stages and changes. Some of us are not in love with people but we still love them platonically; some of us eventually stop loving people all together because of time or other relationships formed.
This may sound like a naïve cliché because the world is full of the Devil but if we could just learn to love one another more boldly, fearlessly and completely without wanting something in return we may experience more of that Agape love God has for us. It won’t be as pure but it would make humanity more blessed. If you can’t find it in your heart to love your neighbor or enemy how about loving the ones you do love; better?
Originally Posted by Ms. Angela's Stuff at 8:01 PM
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