We have all heard the phrase that “love is a strong word”, and why is that? It is mostly because we don’t really know what love is. It is something so unique to us that we cannot really explain what we are feeling. But how is love spoken about in the Bible? In 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, Paul describes the nature of love and defines what it is. From verses 4-7 he says that love is something that is eternal and does not perish like everything else. Love never fails us (verse 8).
The Bible talks about 2 different types of love, namely Phileo (Brotherly Love) and Agape (Unconditional Love). They are the 2 different types of love in the Greek used in various places which hold different meanings. Phileo is something that we see that the disciples use to talk to Jesus since they don’t believe that they can reach the level of love and compassion that Jesus had for them, showing that loving someone unconditionally is something that we should strive for, but we are not sure that we can attain it. Agape on the other hand is unconditional, and it is something we believe we have for our loved ones. Agape love represents a higher ideal, one that humans can strive to reach and cultivate through conscious effort and intentional practice.
But what are we supposed to love and why? Matthew 22:37 (The Great Commandment) Jesus tells the Pharisees and Sadducees that they shall love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind, following that they should love their neighbor as themselves. “Heart” speaks to our emotions, desires and will. “Soul” talks about our deepest self, personality, and spirit. “Mind” refers to our thoughts and understanding. Together these three aspects give us a clear picture of our primary focus. Our lives should involve acts of worship, prayer, and study. It extends far beyond formal religious practices, but it is an act of love that we believe in God and believe that he has a plan. Seeking his will and striving to live in a way that honors him is everything he could ask of us. We can also see that love has an element of sacrifice- putting others before yourself. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). 1 John 5:3 says that by loving God we keep his commandments. It is the only way we can honor him and be able to walk in the right path.
Our love for God is different than the love God has for us. We can see even Peter, a disciple who followed Jesus, was not able to love Jesus to the level he did (John 21: 15-17). We should strive to love God the way he does for us although it is something we cannot attain. Even our smallest actions will be accounted for since there is no level to how much we can love God.
To conclude I believe keeping in peace and harmony with one another and in prayer is the most basic form of love. Love is something that each of us can perceive in our own ways, even the smallest things can show signs of love, and it is up to our understanding. But loving God is something we should strive for since it is the only thing we can do for everything he has done for us. “But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13.