Love
The other day, while speaking with a close friend, I got reminded of my favorite part of the Bible - the first few verses in 1 Corinthians 13, a letter written by the apostle Paul to the Corinthians. It’s often read at weddings, as the relatively short section of scripture perfectly summarizes the power, characteristics and importance of love. In my view, they provide the 'best' definition of what true love is. I haven't seen a better description anywhere else.
1 Corinthians 13 reveals what those dictates are:
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly;
it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
Love is indeed special - between faith, hope and love - love is truly the greatest.
This description is what we call an 'Agape love'. Agape is a Greco-Christian term referring to love, representing 'the highest form of love'. Not to be confused with philia, brotherly/friendly love, this embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstance. It goes beyond just the emotions to the extent of seeking the best for others. There are no emotional feelings in this Biblical definition of love. Emotions and feelings have to follow, as they are very much a part of our human nature.
It is the ultimate form of love - which can be described as being of four kinds (this comes from a book written by CS Lewis - he mainly wrote it from a Christian perspective, but this is very much relevant for everyone):
1. Familial love ('Storge') - This is for instance the natural love and affection of a parent for their child. It can also be described as empathy, and a desire to support and nurture the subject of your love, in this case your child. It is certainly the most natural, emotive, and widely diffused - It is natural in that it is present without being forced, emotive because it is the result of fondness due to 'familiarity', and most widely diffused because it pays the least attention to those characteristics deemed 'valuable' or 'worthy' of love - a mother would always love her child! However, in some sense, it is need-based, and that is why as children grow older, that bond may fray. So, we need to continue to make an effort to maintain that bond.
2. Friendly/brotherly bond ('Philia') - This is perhaps one of the 'least' natural of all kinds of 'love' as it is not needed/required, but in some sense, it is a higher-level love as it is freely chosen, not imposed. It can, in many cases, be very strong and really fill one with joy and happiness.
3. Romantic/Physical love ('Eros') - This can represent the love between a man and a woman, who become 'life partners'. It can be very profound, but can also lead to several 'problems', as we see in today's society.
4. Agape love - as described above. A love that exists in spite of changing circumstances. Each of the above three kinds of love may approach this one.
In my view, true love can only come when we accept that 'God is love'. We need to have a real cognizance of how 'loved' and 'blessed' we have been. No one has seen God - but we can have our parents as symbols and examples. We need to become the 'moon' to this 'sun' of love, and reflect those attributes in ourselves.
As humans, it is extremely difficult for us to reach this pinnacle. It is desirable - and that is why 1 Corinthians 13 is read at weddings - but a long journey! But if we can even inculcate some of these attributes in ourselves, our lives would be so much better - in my view, this represents truly the 'purpose' of why we are all here - to love, to serve, to comfort, to put a smile on someone's face when they are struggling! Having true companions, true friends is the real asset, not any money, property, or otherwise! So, let us strive for that! Amen!
1 Corinthians 13 reveals what those dictates are:
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly;
it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
Love is indeed special - between faith, hope and love - love is truly the greatest.
This description is what we call an 'Agape love'. Agape is a Greco-Christian term referring to love, representing 'the highest form of love'. Not to be confused with philia, brotherly/friendly love, this embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstance. It goes beyond just the emotions to the extent of seeking the best for others. There are no emotional feelings in this Biblical definition of love. Emotions and feelings have to follow, as they are very much a part of our human nature.
It is the ultimate form of love - which can be described as being of four kinds (this comes from a book written by CS Lewis - he mainly wrote it from a Christian perspective, but this is very much relevant for everyone):
1. Familial love ('Storge') - This is for instance the natural love and affection of a parent for their child. It can also be described as empathy, and a desire to support and nurture the subject of your love, in this case your child. It is certainly the most natural, emotive, and widely diffused - It is natural in that it is present without being forced, emotive because it is the result of fondness due to 'familiarity', and most widely diffused because it pays the least attention to those characteristics deemed 'valuable' or 'worthy' of love - a mother would always love her child! However, in some sense, it is need-based, and that is why as children grow older, that bond may fray. So, we need to continue to make an effort to maintain that bond.
2. Friendly/brotherly bond ('Philia') - This is perhaps one of the 'least' natural of all kinds of 'love' as it is not needed/required, but in some sense, it is a higher-level love as it is freely chosen, not imposed. It can, in many cases, be very strong and really fill one with joy and happiness.
3. Romantic/Physical love ('Eros') - This can represent the love between a man and a woman, who become 'life partners'. It can be very profound, but can also lead to several 'problems', as we see in today's society.
4. Agape love - as described above. A love that exists in spite of changing circumstances. Each of the above three kinds of love may approach this one.
In my view, true love can only come when we accept that 'God is love'. We need to have a real cognizance of how 'loved' and 'blessed' we have been. No one has seen God - but we can have our parents as symbols and examples. We need to become the 'moon' to this 'sun' of love, and reflect those attributes in ourselves.
As humans, it is extremely difficult for us to reach this pinnacle. It is desirable - and that is why 1 Corinthians 13 is read at weddings - but a long journey! But if we can even inculcate some of these attributes in ourselves, our lives would be so much better - in my view, this represents truly the 'purpose' of why we are all here - to love, to serve, to comfort, to put a smile on someone's face when they are struggling! Having true companions, true friends is the real asset, not any money, property, or otherwise! So, let us strive for that! Amen!
posted by Prankul Middha @ 12:46 pm
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