It seems only fitting that “LOVE” be our topic of conversation this week. Valentine’s Day is only a few days away. Are you ready? To be honest, it’s not a holiday that we go overboard celebrating in my house. We say “Happy Valentine’s Day” and then go about our day. That doesn’t mean this girl doesn’t like getting gifts of love occasionally, but I think I prefer love to be shown to me through action most of the time. I’ve heard of the “Love Language” test and wondered if it proved to be true. Have you taken it before? If you took it, does it seem accurate?
Did you know the Bible speaks clearly on four different types of love? The Greek words for these are: Eros, Storge, Philia, and Agape.
Eros is the type of love most people think of in regards to Valentine’s Day. Eros is the Greek word for sensual or romantic love. This form of love in the Bible is strictly reserved for people within the bonds of marriage. In marriage, it is to be celebrated and enjoyed as a blessing from God. There are many verses that speak to this. In fact, there is a whole book in the Bible that speaks to this type of love in marriage. It is Song of Solomon, sometimes listed as Song of Songs.
Storge is the next type of love referenced in the Bible. Storge is a Greek work that describes a natural familial love. This type of love is shared between parents and children, and brothers and sisters. It can also be another layer of love shared between husband and wife.
Philia is the next type of love. This is the love that most unites Christians. This is a love that runs deep in true friendships. It is the most general type of love used in scripture. Jesus says in John 13:35, “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The last of the four loves is the highest form of love. Agape love is a perfect love. It is unconditional. It is sacrificial. It is pure. Agape describes the kind of love God the Father has for us: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”(John 3:16) We also see this love portrayed by Jesus himself in the way he lived and died for us.
We are commanded to love one another. It should be our mission, as Christians, to love others and bring them to Christ so that they in turn can share this love with others. I would like to encourage you all to step out of your comfort zone this week and share the love of Christ with someone you don’t know, or maybe someone you do know that doesn't know Christ. If God the Father can sacrifice His only Son for us and Jesus could willingly die on a cross for all of our sins, surely we can muster up enough courage to ask someone if they know Jesus.
I hope you all have a wonderful, love-filled rest of the week. Comment with your favorite verse on love and tell us which type of love you think the verse represents.
Much Love,
LB
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