What Does It Mean to Love?

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What Does It Mean to Love?

by Dr. Alan Hix

Well, February has now arrived so get ready for some candy! As we focus on Valentine’s day, people will be talking about love in many different ways.

I thought about some approaches we have seen to love in film over the years. The 1970 film “Love Story” ended with the declaration that “love means never having to say you’re sorry.” In the musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” in a

song entitled “Do You Love Me?,” love is described in terms of what a couple does for one another. In a different approach, in “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back,” when Princess Leia declares her love for Han Solo, his response is a warm-fuzzy “I know.” On the opposite end of the spectrum, a main theme in “The Princess Bride” is that true love conquers all—even death. Elsewhere in media, love travels other roads—some of them noble, and some of them very dark.

This Valentine’s Day, when you give your significant other a card and say “I love you,” what do you mean? How often in our relationships do we find ourselves saying: “If you loved me, you would do ______.” How often have we taken the declaration in 1 John 4:8 that “God is love,” and flipped it to mean “love is god” instead? Much of society’s view of love seems to reflect this perspective.

When we think about what true love looks like, what does Scripture mean when it declares “God is love?” In Romans 5:8, the Apostle Paul states “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (NIV). Jesus would state in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (NIV). God’s love for us is described in terms of self-sacrifice. When Paul addresses human relationships, he uses that same sacrificial language: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” Ephesians 5:25 (NIV). Jesus speaks of love on the night before his crucifixion declaring, “If you love me, keep my commands” John 14:15 (NIV). Jesus helps his disciples see that their love for him is not solely demonstrated by a depth of emotion, but more significantly by a commitment to obedience. What we can glean from this brief survey is that true love is defined by sacrifice and commitment. In other words, love is a choice we make, not a feeling we discover. More than ever, our troubled world needs to see the children of God choose to love. The focus of our love is not just to be directed to those close to us, but even to those who are different from us in many ways and approach life from a different worldview. Jesus urges his disciples in that same discourse, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” John 13:35 (NIV). So, this Valentines Day, choose to love!

About The Author Dr. Alan Hix is an Associate Professor of Christian Studies at Shorter University. In addition to being and educator, he has served churches as a pastor, been involved in mission trips to Africa, Canada, and Alaska, and participated in archaeological excavations in Israel for several years.