Ah, I can see Tina Turner now strutting her stuff on stage and belting out, “What’s love got to do with it?” Is love just a “Second-hand emotion?” Tina says it is. In fact, is love just an emotion or something more?
The Greeks of the first century had four different words to describe love. We have one! We say, “I love chocolate.” “I love my husband.” “I love my cat.” Really? Do we love them all the same? So it would seem since we use the same word. I would contend we don’t love them all the same. You don’t love your cat the same way you love your husband and you sure don’t love chocolate the same way you love your husband (hmm, I might have to think about that!).
To the Greek mind love of family (storgē) was different from friendship love (phileo) which was different from physical, sexual love (eros) which was different from sacrificial love (agapē). When the writers of the New Testament chose to describe the love of God, they chose agape because God’s love is the greatest love of all. Only agapē would cause Him to willingly sacrifice His only Son to die for sinners like you and me. So love is more than a “second-hand emotion.” It’s an amazing display of sacrifice.
Ăgapē is used 115 times in the New Testament. It is distinguished from phileo, which is emotional by nature. Ăgapē isn’t. It is volitional. It is “other-centered.” agapē is marked by making a choice. It is choosing to love. It marks God’s love for us. His love for us drove God to make the incredible choice of sacrificing His only begotten Son for us. He didn’t have to but He did. Reflecting on Ăgapē, the hymn writer, Charles Wesley, asks these questions, “And can it be that I should gainAn int’rest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”
That, Tina Turner, is real love for real love goes beyond fleeting, fickle emotions. Real love declares to sinners like you and me, “You are valuable to me. You are my treasure. I would die for you.” That’s how much God loves you. Yes, He hates your sin but He loves you and that will never change regardless of circumstances.
Happy Valentine’s Day, beloved of God!
Irv