Definition of Love :: By Nathele Graham

What is the definition of love? Well, if you look in the dictionary, you’ll find some superficial meanings. According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Love is defined as a noun. “A feeling of affection and concern toward another person, kinship or close friendship. A strong feeling of affection and concern for another person accompanied by sexual attraction. A feeling of devotion or adoration toward God or a god.”

See what I mean? Love is a noun, but it should also be a verb, which is an action word. For a Christian, love should be the motivation to show God’s love to a lost world. This world is ruled by Satan, and he has corrupted love, just like he corrupts all lovely things from God. He corrupted the perfect life in the Garden of Eden, and he has turned love into a self-centered thing that doesn’t resemble God’s love at all. God’s love is perfect. He is forgiving to those who are repentant. He has rules because He knows what is best. He sent His only Son to give His life as the final sacrifice to take our sins away. That’s love.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

The world can only bring death and unhappiness. Only faith in Jesus Christ can bring eternal life and the joy of salvation.

If we love God, we put selfish motives behind us and care for other people. The Apostle Paul was totally changed by God’s love. He had been a very angry man who hated Christians. He was on his way to arrest a group of Christians who had fled to Damascus, and that’s where he met Jesus. From that moment on, his life was changed. He became a Christian and a leader in the Christian community. His letters, inspired by the Holy Spirit, have guided Christians for nearly 2,000 years. If modern missionaries followed Paul’s example, we would have many more people accept Christ. He understood God’s love.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 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, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

Is this talking about love or about charity? I really don’t know why the King James translators used the word “charity,” but we need to look at the Greek word for charity. It’s “agape,” which is defined as affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love. Most modern translations translate agape as love.

Paul had learned a lot since he met Jesus. He could do all kinds of works, but that wouldn’t be love. Many Christians feel pride if they speak in tongues and use other gifts of the Spirit to prove their “holiness.” In truth, none of those things replace love. If you speak in tongues but then use your mouth to use vulgar language or don’t have a Godly love for other people, then you’re just making noise. If your knowledge of Scripture is deep but you don’t have love for others, then you’re not truly understanding Scripture. Christian love is a verb.

How does God’s love shine in your life?

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

There are some words in that passage that may need defining. Love is patient and kind. If you lose patience with others, then you’re putting yourself above them. Jesus, God Himself, is kind and patient with you, and we must use Him as our example to follow. If you love like God loves, you won’t be jealous of others or strut around showing off; you won’t be filled with pride. Love won’t let you be rude or demand your own way. You won’t be easily angered by the shortcomings of others, and you won’t think evil toward others. Love doesn’t take joy when evil happens but rejoices in truth.

Love doesn’t give up on others. If you’re a parent and have a rebellious child, you don’t stop loving that child and praying for repentance; you believe the child can and will change, and whatever the circumstance, you love them through the problems. That’s how God loves you. Even when we fail, He loves us. You can be more tolerant of others when you honestly look at yourself and see your faults, but know that God loves you anyway. God’s love is perfect love, and we need to strive to live to honor Him. God is the true definition of love.

Works cannot save us; only faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus will bring repentance to our hearts and salvation for our souls. Doing good things is the result of our faith, or it should be. We can tell the world we love Jesus, but if we don’t have love, we are showing others a dead faith.

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:19-20).

The problem with works is that many times works are used instead of faith and love. It can be easy to show others how Christian you are because you speak in tongues, but that means nothing if you turn around and brag about your gift or speak evil of others. Is that showing God’s love? No, it isn’t. Go back through the list of things that Paul named as things that reflect God’s love and attitudes that are opposed to God’s love, and see if you need to change your actions to reflect God. Are you short-tempered? Maybe you’re jealous of others.

I’m not pointing fingers, because I see myself in that list. On the other hand, recently, I have had a very difficult situation. Some Christian friends have shown me the sacrificial love of God, and I’m very humbled by their kindness. I truly don’t know what I would have done without these fellow Christians who have done so much. I thank God for them and hope that somehow I can pass a blessing on to someone else. The kindnesses they’ve shown are seen by others who aren’t Christians, and that is an added blessing that could draw a lost soul to salvation.

God’s love is eternal. He has given us blessings in this life that are amazing. The gift of speaking in tongues is one of those blessings, if used properly. He has given us prophecy to be a guide as we move swiftly to the end of time. He has given men wisdom to understand the truth of His word. These, and other gifts, are wonderful blessings from God, but one day, they will be meaningless.

“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away” (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Love is eternal. The love of God will take Christians to eternity with Jesus. He is building a mansion for us right now. The building is almost done and ready for His bride. If you love God, then share the Gospel with someone, but let the Holy Spirit guide you in presenting the Gospel. Show His love to someone who just might be ready to accept God’s love. If you don’t speak up, they may miss their chance for salvation. Or, you could be the one who shares the Gospel with the final person to accept Christ in order for the Rapture to happen. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

Instead of looking in a dictionary for the definition of love, look to Scripture. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).

Just like sugar is sweet and water is wet, God is love.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham
[email protected]

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).

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