Love Is An Overused Word

The word “love” has been diluted in today’s culture. What used to be a word that was held in regard to only one’s closest circle, now is being used for anyone and anything. It’s become a bit of a problem now. Why is that?

Because Jesus loves me. He loves you. He loves us all.

But because the significance of love has been diluted and watered down, I’m not sure we realize what Christ actually means when He says He loves us.

Levels of Love

I remember growing up the word “love” was a very selective word. I only used it with family: my parents, brothers, grandparents. The word was significant, and because of its significance, I held onto it for only the people closest to me. It was word defined by a strong bond, an unconditional support, and unwavering devotion to that person. Granted, I might remember it to be more grandiose than my 8-year-old mind considered it, but even then I knew it was a bigger thing than simple friendship.

As I grew up into my teens and then college years, my use of the word expanded, but still stayed fairly selective. Still mostly family, but also close friends, and even a couple of girlfriends. But what amazed me was how freely people I knew were tossing around the word “love.” They loved all their new college friends that they knew for a week; or I would hear someone saying they loved this cheeseburger that they were eating for lunch. This wasn’t the word I was used to.

In the use of the word “love” so much, it seems to have come to mean “really, really like.” You like your new friends, or you enjoy having new friends around, but do you really love them? You might enjoy that meal or burger, but does it qualify as love? What is love?

I don’t believe every use of the word is supposed to mean the same thing. There appears there has been made different levels of love, through the overuse of the word, which has diluted its meaning. So it can mean anything from a familial bond, to just a bit of enjoyment.

It’s not a problem except I can’t tell what someone really means when they “love” something or someone.

So when Jesus says He loves me, what does He mean? What does it mean for God to love the world?

Love, Biblically Speaking

Writing this, I’ve learned that this has been a pretty topical discussion throughout time, analyzing types of love. C.S. Lewis even wrote a book on the topic of types of love (Four Loves), and discussed them over radio shows.

Most of the time, when someone talks about the Biblical sense of “love,” they break out a concordance and define “agape” love. In the New Testament, the original Greek text uses the word “agape” to define selfless love, or unconditional love: charity. Which even then they had to differentiate the word; the Greek language had different words for different feelings of love, passion, and friendship.

However, I don’t want to dissect the Greek language today. All I want to see is how Jesus loves me. What does one mean when they tell me that He loves me?

Let’s look at one of the most commonly recited verses in the Gospel:

¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17 KJV

Here we see the level of love God has for us. He gave His Son up to the world, in order to save us. We are sinful, and Jesus was blameless, and yet he was given to this world to give us an out.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites time and time again try different ways to secure structure and keep their nation strong, but time and time again, their leaders succumb to vanity and turn away from God. Their judges ultimately failed, their kingdoms failed, and their sacrifices and scapegoats never were a permanent solution; they too failed. God had to give his Son as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and shortcomings, to give us a chance at salvation.

I think that requires a tremendous amount of love, selfless and unconditional. In fact, Jesus says it’s the greatest love we can have.

¹³Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 KJV

A Watered-Down Love

I think this is my biggest problem with the overuse of the word “love.” When the Bible speaks on what love is, it is often speaks that it is this selfless “agape” love, selfless love. Love without thought to consequences. A love for no gain. Nothing asked for in return. My Savior died out of love, for no reason other than countless people now and through history are imperfect and corrupt, and needed this chance for eternal life. His sacrifice was selfless and I find myself doubting if I could do the same for just one man.

So the question I ask is, when you love a cheeseburger, are you willing to lay down your life for it? Are you willing to die for that cheeseburger? Of course not.

But in the same vein, we need to understand that God didn’t just really like us. He didn’t crush on us. He loved us, and He loves us even now.

No matter how sinful I may think I am, or that you may think you are, Jesus came to die on the cross for you and I, for our chance at salvation. As John 3:17 says, He did not come to condemn, but so that we might have a chance at redemption and salvation.

I think part of the fault lies in our English language has limited vocabulary. We don’t have words to differentiate between romantic love, friendly love, familial love, or unconditional love. But in spite of this limitation, we should always understand that the love of God is higher than just a superficial level. It is not this watered-down definition.

Charity

1 Corinthians 13 is considered the Love chapter, because it defines love, or charity.

⁴Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, ⁵Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; ⁶Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; ⁷Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. ⁸Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 KJV

Charity, or love, is selfless, much like God’s love for us. A loving person doesn’t seek to gain from one’s love; it is a humble love; it is an everlasting love. As a Christian, this is a love we seek to attain. A love for our fellow man, that requires no love back, no payment of any sort. Matthew 5:44 tells us to love our enemies and those that persecute us. This is the level of love we should seek. The love that allows us to turn the other cheek when persecuted. To forgive 70 times 7.

Even what we consider being charitable is nothing without this love. Verse 3 of 1 Corinthians 13 says that if one gives to the poor but without love, they profit nothing from it. Intent must be there.

This is the love Christians attain for and often fall short of.

And now that we understand what the Bible understands as love, know this. God loves you. Jesus has greater love than no other man for you. How blessed we are to have this love, Christians and non-Christians alike.

Because there is always a chance for salvation.

¹³And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV

God bless.