THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE

   When you hear the word love what do you think of? The feelings you have for your spouse? Your children or family? Your friends? Maybe you think about your favorite food that you love or some activity that you are really interested in (e.g., I love baseball). Some use this word to describe their respect for their country. In the English language, the word love can apply to all of these things and many others. So, when the word love is used, you have to consider the context to understand what is meant.

In the New Testament we quickly learn the importance of love in the life of a Christian. But what does the word mean? How important is love to the Christian? What impact does love have in the believer's life? In this article we will begin a series of articles that will address these questions and many others.

WHAT IS LOVE?

What is love? In the Greek language, there are four different words that are translated love in English. Two of them are found throughout the New Testament. Determining which Greek word is used is needed to determine the true meaning of the context.

The first word translated love is agape. This word is exclusive to Christianity. W.E. Vine describes this word as "the characteristic word of Christianity." (Love). Thayer defines the word as "1. Affection, good-will, love, benevolence:" (from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 2000 by Biblesoft). A good practical definition of this word is, Caring enough to sacrifice for what is best.  This type of love involves proper behavior toward others. At times it is against natural inclinations (i.e. - loving your enemies and neighbors). Agape love is involved in every relationship the Christian has.

The other Greek word translated love in the Bible is phileo. This word indicates tender affections according to W.E. Vine. Thayer defines it as, "1. To love; to be friendly to one" (IBID). It is a word that describes the feelings one will have toward his friends and those he cares about. Christians develop this type of love in certain relationships associated with their Christianity (i.e. - God, Jesus and his brethren).

THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE

Love (agape) is very important to the Christian. It is the foundation of everything he does. 1 Corinthians 13 describes this love. In the first 3 verses, Paul describes just how important love is. He states, "1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Note how important Paul says it is that we have Christian love. He states that if we have great eloquence in our speech but there is no love, than to God it is just noise. If we have a great knowledge and understanding of God's word, and if we have the greatest of faith in Him, if love is missing, it will amount to nothing. And even if we surrender our lives and our possessions for some reason other than godly love, it will be of no profit to you. Paul writes this in the midst of a discussion about brethren arguing over spiritual gifts that some possessed and others did not (1 Corinthians 12-14). His point is this: It doesn't matter what we say, do or have. If we lack the proper motive, namely Christian love, God will not accept it. Yes love is important.

" From this text we note that love originates with God, and that He is in fact the manifestation of love. The ultimate example of this is seen in His sending His son, Jesus, to die upon a cross so that our sins could be forgiven. It is in this that God so loved the world (John 3:16). John concluded this passage by exhorting us to love one another just as God loved us.