Loving Others

Loving others is not something most of us do naturally. Sure, there are those we show love to because they are special to us or we have a particular connection with, but what about those who we don’t know so well and those who are hard to love? And what about loving God – how do we even do that? Are we supposed to drum up some warm feelings for him – is that how we are to love God?

Our culture today totally misconstrues what God calls love. Read a few writings and watch a few movies or TV shows and you will notice that their idea about love is all about self – what I can get for myself and what I can get out of other people. People form relationships and “fall in love” emotionally and chemically, and stay that way until the other person no longer gives them what they want or the feelings go away. So, when you no longer love that person, you dump him or her, whether by divorce or just breaking up a relationship, and find love somewhere else. Is that what love is? If so, it is a flakey business at best, and totally self-centered.

True love

The Bible defines love in a much different way. Chapter 13 of First Corinthians gives a simple and practical picture of what love is and then lifts that choice and motive above all the other religious actions and gifts. God through Paul in essence tells us that if we perform the spiritual gifts even at a high level, yet are not loving others in the process, our actions are meaningless. He tells us what love is:

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

NIV

There is more that he gives as well – this is just a starting point. But are we living them each day?

Biblical love is a choice and an action; feelings are optional. I can choose to love others regardless of their response. But my love needs to be an action of doing right by them and what is for their best as God defines it. It is not loving to lead someone else into sin or to use them or abandon them or belittle them or talk badly about them. Love involves doing good to them, speaking good about them, and even praying for them (see Luke 6:27-28) – even our enemies, and those we think are enemies.