Love. We tend to throw that word around so much that it has almost lost its meaning. What is love, anyway? Is it a feeling? An action? A complete and total mystery? I don’t know about you, but as an INTJ, I don’t like the feeling of “wondering.” I need a precise definition of the word “love.” In this essay, I hope to accomplish just that, and personally, I want to put an end to my 26 years of wondering (seriously, how did I even make it this far without knowing?).
When the word “love” is used casually, speakers are often referring to different types of love, adding to the confusion surrounding the concept. This essay is intended to find a common denominator between all the uses of the word “love.” A common use of the word “love” simply refers to a strong sense of like. This is often used when referring to some inanimate object, e.g. “I love that song” or “I love pizza.” The word “love,” in this sense, can even refer to a person that the speaker does not know personally, often a celebrity. Of course, like, no matter how strong, is not love, but understanding of this use is important to the greater definition of love.
Humans are emotional beings, therefore love certainly has an emotional aspect: a passionate one that is often overlooked, attributed to only a specific type of love. One person can have differing degrees of passion in their love for different people, but that doesn’t mean that they love them more or less. This is seen in the (often incorrectly used) phrase “I love you, but I don’t have to like you.” Unfortunately, this phrase is often used to justify harboring negative feelings towards another because they have nominally fulfilled the “love” requirement. This, of course, brings us right back to the question of “what is love, anyway?” If I don’t like somebody, can I really truly “love” them?
The answer, in short, is yes. Love, essentially, is an action. It is putting someone’s needs before your own. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13, NASB) Such a great form of self-sacrifice is rare, but smaller acts of self-sacrifice can be performed daily, even for those we don’t necessarily like. But for them to truly be considered “love,” I think these sacrifices should be made willingly, and perhaps even enthusiastically.
So, now you’re probably thinking, “okay, Cole, I’ve read your explanation of the different parts of love, but what exactly is love? How can I concisely define it?” Well, unfortunately I don’t have an answer for you. I know that was the main point of this essay, and honestly, it is what I hoped to discover for myself when I began writing. Love is, and always will be, a sort of mystery. I believe love is one of those things that we will never fully understand until we meet the greatest Love face to face. But I hope this essay helped you find ways to practically love others and fulfil one of the greatest commandments in your daily life.
