Is Our Definition of Love the Same as Christ's?

What is love? Is our definition of love the same as Jesus Christ’s definition? We can learn so much from scripture.

Love is in the air – especially in springtime! As humans, we often see love in “one-time” actions or events such as buying flowers for your wife or taking someone to a nice restaurant and buying a nice bottle of wine. Christmas and birthday presents also show our love for someone. Love can also be seen in the affection shown by grandparents to their grandchildren or a mother nursing her young child. We “love” our sports teams when they win. We love our favorite food or drink. We love our neighbors – if we know who they are and we have good fences. We love a good time or pulling pranks on someone. We love our country – especially during war or sporting events. Love is smiley faces! Love is fun; Love is easy!

Our definition is much different than what Jesus sees love as. First, Jesus tells us we are required to love God and our neighbor: Matthew 22:36-41
36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

I love my neighbor; he is a good guy. This is not good enough. Jesus tells us our neighbor is anyone in need of mercy – not family, not friends; but anyone in need of mercy: Luke 10: 29- 37 29 But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 32 Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 33 But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. 34 He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ 36 Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” 37 He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

I give to charities; go to church; have a strong faith. I don't hurt anyone. Isn’t that enough? Paul says no matter how holy, faithful or generous we are, if we do not have love, we have nothing: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
1 If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, 5 it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, 6 it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.

Well, how important is love? Paul goes on to say: 1 Corinthians 13: 13
13 So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. So, we must love God and our neighbor.

How does God define love: John 3: 16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

God loves us so much that he gave His only Son for us! His Son, Jesus went through His Passion for us. He suffered and died for us – so that we may have eternal life with him. Imagine giving your son for love of others. Imaging going through Christ’s Passion and crucifixion for love of others.

The type of love Jesus wants from us is difficult, but it is the only way to eternal life with God; to be children of God: Matthew 5: 43-45
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

So, we know that without love, we are nothing. We must love God and our neighbor. Love, as required by Jesus is difficult. Our love belongs to everyone in need of mercy, even our enemies and strangers. It is sacrifice; caring for others; sharing; following the example set by Jesus; the Works of Mercy, the Beatitudes. Love as defined by Jesus is not easy, it can be very difficult.

However, the result is heavenly!