DEFINING LOVE IN GOD’S PERSPECTIVE

How many times we have told people we loved them without really understanding what we meant. Everybody wants to be loved. We all need love. But do we really understand what it means to love or to be loved? All of us have our own definition of what love is depending on the context in which it is used. We are going to look at what it really means to love according to the word of God in this post.
It is amazing how love for God and neighbor is so important to the very existence of human life. The Bible tells us God is love. Bible equates love to God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:8 KJV

This should tell us how important the subject of love is to our very existence and our everyday life.
We find very interesting definitions and explanations for love in the word of God, the Bible. The Bible as the manual for human life answers intricate issues of life among which love cannot be overlooked. Many books have been written concerning this subject; both Christian and secular books.
McClintock and Strong encyclopaedia defines love as “an attachment of the affections to any object, accompanied with an ardent desire to promote its happiness: by abstaining from all that could prove injurious to it, by doing all that can promote its welfare, comfort, or interests, whether it is indifferent to these efforts, or whether it appreciates them”.
In 1 Corinthians 13 is a perfect definition of what love.
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It is not rude, 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. 1 Cor 13:1-6 NIV
Here, we see that nothing can take the place of love in our relationship with God and fellow human beings. The Bible encourages us to desire spiritual gifts, to preach the gospel and many others. But none of these can be substituted for love. Love is the foundation upon which all these other faculties stand. Having power to do wondrous and miraculous things is useless without love. It is our love that really matters to God in our relationship with Him.

ATTRIBUTES OF LOVE

Patience. Love is patient. You are patient with the people you love. You believe they can change and do things right with time. God is patient with us though we continually violate His word every day. Look at how wicked and perverse the human race has become yet the lord is patient with us because of his love for us.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NIV
Kindness. Love is kind. Love freely gives. God demonstrate his greater love to us by giving us his precious Son to come and die for our sins.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son... John 3:16 KJV
How freely are you able to give out things that are dear to you to others who need them to promote their welfare? It is a sign of how much love you have toward these people. God thought of us. He thought of our wellbeing and gave us a Son that will help bring us to that wellness God wants for us. He gave not because we deserved it but because he loved us. Kindness brings tolerance and forgiveness.
Love does not envy. Love is not resentful at seeing the success of other people. Love is not boastful, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered and does not rejoice over evil.
WHY LOVE IS IMPORTANT

Why does God place such great emphasis on loving him and loving our neighbors? Loving your neighbor as yourself being the second greatest commandent tells us how crucial love is to our survival as children of God.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Matt 22:39
We are made in the image and likeness of God. We carry the personality of God as human beings. Loving your neighbor is actually equivalent to loving God because your neighbor is made in the image of God. You cannot claim to love God if you don’t love your neighbor. It is a requirement and a necessity.
If we can grasp this truth and walk with it then the Lord would dwell amongst us in our country, communities and in our homes. God bless you and fill your heart with his love.