Often Used But Misunderstood (Part 2)

Rhordan Wicks

INTRODUCTION

This series explores words that are common in our vernacular, but perhaps have become so overused that we have lost their true, biblical meaning. Last week, we studied the word “Faith”, and this week’s big word is: Love.

Love is arguably the most important word in our vocabulary, and so a correct understanding is essential, life-changing knowledge. A biblical understanding of love will transform us and change our lives and the world around us. It’s that powerful!

In our world, the most common understanding of love is in romantic terms: we “fall” in love, we are “love-struck”. We also tend to think of love as simply an emotion-driven feeling. Just as easily as we can fall in love, we can fall out of love whenever our feelings change. This is far from the biblical definition of faith, which John outlined in 1 John 4, using the Greek term “agape”.

In 1 John 4:8, John said, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” The most important truth about love that we need to catch is that God is love. It is His nature. So when we want to grasp what love means, we only need to look at who He is and what He has done. What we discover is that love is doing what is good for the sake of someone else. How does this definition of love measure against your understanding of love?

DISCUSSION

Read 1 John 3:16-18 and 1 John 4:7-12.

a. What did God do to show His love for us?

b. What does John say should be the result of God’s love for us?

i) In what relationship of your life is God calling you to demonstrate love?

c. Is God’s love different from romantic love? If so, how?

i) Read Matthew 26:36-39. What might be the difference between love as an act of will, and love as an act of emotion? Was Jesus’ love an example of love as the former, the latter, or both?

ii) What does this mean for the love that we show others?
In our world, an ideal love is one that is reciprocated. That is, we are reluctant to show love towards someone who does not show us love. But in 1 John 4:10, John explicitly describes God’s love as given without being reciprocated. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Romans 5:8 also says, But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

a. What does it mean to you that God loved you first, before you loved Him, and sent Jesus to sacrifice His life on your behalf?

b. When we love sacrificially, we give something up for the other’s benefit. In what area of your life is God calling you to demonstrate sacrificial love?

c. Loving sacrificially also means letting go of any need for recognition or acknowledgement. We may never receive thanks for our acts of love. How does that make you feel, and why?

d. What would change in your relationships if you applied this definition of love: doing what is good for the sake of someone else?
Read 2 John. In this letter, John explains what love consists of and calls for certain people to be excluded from the hospitality of the church.

a. Pay attention to 2 John 1:6. How is John’s instruction consistent with his call to love? What then does biblical love entail?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO

In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus describes Judgement Day, when He will separate people into two groups based on whether they demonstrated love to the “least of these”. John echoes this idea in 1 John 4:16-17, And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement: In this world we are like Jesus.

When we receive the incredible sacrificial love of God, He calls us to show the same love towards others. Our actions reveal our heart. He will judge us for how we live this life. How is God challenging the way you love others? Are you only willing to love the lovable? Or are you determined not to love someone unless they also love you back? Or do you find yourself falling out of love with others – when it gets difficult, or when sacrifice is required? Ask God to empower you to love how He loves. One practical, helpful question you can ask yourself in any situation is, “How can I help you?” Look for ways to help others, and see the way God transforms your understanding of love and changes your life and the world around you!

MEMORY VERSE

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. – 1 John 4:7 NIV