Today, we want to understand the third component of holiness – DIVINE LOVE. Apostle Paul said, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 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. 3 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 Cor. 13:1-3).
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 Jn. 4:8).
Here is the truth: To make it to Heaven in the life to come, you MUST walk in LOVE in this present world.
Holiness is the key to Heaven (Heb. 12:14). And without love HOLINESS is not complete.
We have three types of love: 1) Phileo, 2) Eros, and 3) AGAPE.
What is Philio love? In Ancient Greek Philio love is “brotherly love.” This is the natural likeness for one another. This can be found among siblings.
The Bible encourages “brotherly love.” Romans 12:10 says, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” Hebrews 13:1 says, “Let brotherly love continue.”
What is Eros love? Eros is the Greek word used to express sexual love or the feelings of arousal that are shared between people who are physically attracted to one another. From the word eros we get the word “erotic.” This is a desire for sexual intimacy with the opposite sex.
What then is AGAPE love? Agape (Greek) is the fatherly love of God for humans. And this is the highest form of love.
It is called the God-kind of love. It is also called unconditional love because it is love without any strings attached.
This type of love is not based on what someone has done, is doing or will do for you in return. You simply love that person and want nothing more than his/her happiness.
It is love that is selfless and spiritual. It is a non-sexual love. AGAPE is the character of Christ. It also defines the character of a true Christian.
What are the characteristics of AGAPE love?
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 defines AGAPE saying, “Love endures (suffers) long; love is patient; love is kind; love is never envious; love never boils over with jealousy; love is not boastful or vainglorious, love does not display itself haughtily. Love is not conceited – arrogant and inflated with pride; love is not rude (unmannerly); love does not act unbecomingly; love does not insist on its own right or its own way for it is not self-seeking; love is not touchy or fretful or resentful; love does not take into account the wrongs done to it. Love pays no attention to a suffered wrong. Love does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when righteousness and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes; love is ever ready to believe the best of every person; its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and love endures everything (without weakening). 8 Love never fails – never fades out or becomes obsolete, or come to an end. As for the gift of prophecy (that is, the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away (that is, it will lose its value and be superseded by truth)” (AMP).
1. God-kind of love suffers long. Love endures long even forever (1 Cor. 13:4). Love will never pass away because God is love, and God is eternal. It endures through every circumstance (1 Cor. 13:7).
What does it mean to endure? To endure means to put up with something not pleasant, suffer something painful or difficult patiently. For instance, some years back, I had a colleague from Argentina in the same flat in the language school in Freiburg, West Germany. This guy never used the brush to tidy up the inside of the toilet seat after using it so that another person can use it comfortably. He only flushed the toilet, but half of his mess stuck to the sides of the toilet bowl. This was surely very detestable to me because I loathe such easily. I made sure by the grace of God that he never noticed how I felt. I endured the situation patiently. I was very happy to leave Freiburg for Munich the very day we finished the language school because of this nightmare.
Some people endure long but they are not patient and kind while they are enduring. They endure long just because they have to, but they let everyone know that they are enduring too!
Sometimes a husband suffers long and puts up with certain things like bad soup, scatter-scatter syndrome etc., because of his wife, but he is not patient and kind while doing it and vice versa.
However, the God-kind of love endures long, and is patient and kind while it endures. And it does not weaken, fade out, or come to an end. It never fails.
2. Love is patient (1 Cor. 13:4). AGAPE is able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.
According to the Bible, patience is a form of perseverance and forbearance that allows us to respond to frustrating circumstances with grace and self-control. Patience is not merely a personality trait but is a by-product of the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the heart and mind of the believer.
3. Love is kind (1 Cor. 13:4). It is compassionate, generous, not harsh or unpleasant, and caring. Kindness is a quality shown in the way a person speaks and acts. It is more volitional (with deliberate intention) than emotional. Kindness is a manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit, love. A kind person is a giver. A kind person invests his time and money in the life of other people. A kind person allows someone else a car space in a traffic. A kind person offers a helping hand to the needy. The Good Samaritan, and Cornelius are good examples of kindness (Acts 10).
A kind person holds the door for someone following him so that the door does not strike him. A kind person is helpful. He gives his or her material things to the needy – shoes, dresses, money, food. If you are kind you’ll feel people’s pain. If you are kind you’ll feel what people are going through and do something about it.
Kindness makes you to pay complements to people – you look great, you look beautiful, you look handsome. I like your shoes. I love the design on your dress etc. A kind person spreads good feelings. A kind person puts smiles on other people’s faces. A kind person smiles at others. A kind person forgives others the wrong they did to him. How can you ever build a family without forgiveness? There is no perfect husband anywhere. There is no perfect wife anywhere. There are no perfect children anywhere. There are no perfect neighbours anywhere.
A kind person does not hurt others back. He does not revenge a wrong done to him. He does not retaliate. He lets go. A kind person shows courtesy. A kind person is sensitive to the plight of his or her neighbours. When you pay bills for people you are kind. A kind person gladly and genuinely says thank you. A kind person is a grateful person. He easily appreciates a good done to him/her. A kind person easily and genuinely says sorry when he hurts others.
A kind person is not selfish. Rather he is generous. A kind person shares what he has with others. A kind person helps solve other people’s problems. Kindness will make the world, our churches, our homes, and even our nation a better place. Kindness will make your marriage and your relationship with others work.
Kindness is not a gift. It is a choice.
4. Love is never envious (1 Cor. 13:4). What is envy? Envy is a sickening feeling of discontentment with regards to another person’s success. Envy leads to your wishing he or she were removed. Then it manifests itself in your seeking ways to harm that person in word or action. For instance, the Philistines envied Isaac because of the manifestations of “the blessing” on his life (Gen. 26:13).
5. Love never boils over with jealousy (1 Cor. 13:4). Jealousy generally refers to the thoughts or feelings of insecurity, fear and concern over a relative lack of possessions or safety.
Jealousy can consist of one or more emotions such as anger, resentment, inadequacy, helplessness or disgust. Jealousy starts as you resent a rival. It leads to your wishing he or she were removed. Then it manifests itself in your seeking ways to harm that person in word or action.
To be continued!
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