Introduction
Love is one of those topics that have stirred debates among men and women the most since time immemorial. You’re probably wondering why we’re talking about love today again. Is love really a compulsory requirement in our lives?
Well let’s give it a chance and delve into this topic one more time and probably give it a different view.
Many are the definitions of love which is quite subjective per individual but some surely stand out. The most widely used definitions according to your dictionaries would simply describe love as an intense feeling of deep affection. Another would say that love is a great interest and pleasure in something. And the definition you would probably expect the most is that love is the feeling of liking another adult very much and being romantically and sexually attracted to them
I recently attended a discussion where someone said that love is choosing. Drawing of examples from our God the Lord Almighty himself; He chose to love us first before we loved Him. Despite our shortcomings and the sinful nature of man He chose us and because of His great love He’s ready to forgive us when we approach Him in repentance and confess our sins.
One of my personal key definitions of love is that love is the last line of defence that holds you up when all is falling apart and when hope seems to diminish. It is the fuel that keeps you going in such times. Ever been in a season when you feel like just giving up? Well I once experienced a season when I just like things are the way they’re and nothing much I could do to turn around things; were it not for love that I’d experienced probably I would have just sat behind and let th be as . But because of the overwhelming love that I’d experienced somehow I found my way back.
The Biblical Perspective.
The Bible even gives us more satisfactory findings about love. We’re told that God is love and therefore whoever does not love does not know God. One of the most detailed definitions about love I like very much comes from apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians which presents itself as follows:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV [4] Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Paul’s explores the definition of love in quite a detailed and satisfactory manner. The fruits of love are amazing. If true love existed in us we would be more kind, never jealous, never proud of oneself, never selfish, not quick to give up on our brothers and sisters, we would easily forgive and much more!
In another part of the Bible we’re also reminded that there is no fear in love but perfect love drives out fear!
Love for whatever you do.
Ever been at a point where you don’t love whatever you do? Be it reading, schoolwork or work itself things get harder whenever you don’t love what you do. I’ve ever been at this situation with some subjects before and whenever I changed my attitude and loved more things got easier and performance got quite better. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. Therefore if you do not love what you do try and find all the reasons why you should love it and try your best to love it. If you cannot love it still in the long run the brutal advice most wisemen will tell you is to abandon it, walk away and go find something else that you love.
Love for your institution.
I find it weird to write this here, infact give it a whole section of it’s. I’ve ever it’sbeen at a point where I didn’t love the very institution I was obliged to study in; my former highschool😂 Before I talk further on this allow me to clear the air that I love it very much now and I’m a proud alumnae.
I neither liked nor loved my school simply because my expectations of the school didn’t quite match the reality. If you don’t love the institution you’re in basically you’ll have less motivation, work less harder, and perform lower after all, that’s exactly what I did for three quater of the time I was there. In the last year when I decided to focus on what is good about the school and do what is good and all the best I could say things worked out completely differently. I was much happier, had a better mindset (I’m tempted to say the best). I worked with what worked, complained less and seeked meaningful solutions to things I didn’t find working all without grumbling. It worked out, by God’s grace I got the very results I had so desired in that last quarter. The rest is history!
With love you’ll tend to focus more on the solution and not the problem, you’ll see the advantages more than you will be drawn to the disadvantages.
And now I challenge you, love your country, your university or whichever institution you’re in more. That way we’ll protect them more, conserve more and focus more on coming up with solutions that point out challenges while doing nothing at them.
Love for self.
The second greatest commandment Jesus gives us is “love your neighbour as you love yourself “. You love yourself first before you love others. I think its highly assumed that all humans do love themselves first. But is it really possible to love if you yourself don’t love yourself? Certainly not according to me. Therefore love yourself, take care of yourself be mindful about your spiritual wellbeing, pray more, protect your mind. Maintain a good physical health, do exercise as adequate as you can and eat good food .
And a warning for you do not attempt to into a relationship to fill the void of love that you do not have yourself! Love yourself adequately first and understand what that is before seeking to love! You cannot pour from an empty cup. Therefore create the overflow yourself first.
Note that being in a good condition and loving yourself alone .
Love as a catalyst of Infinite intelligence.
It is worth noting how love does wonders and it’s enduring impression on mankind. The emotion of love brings out, and develops, the artistic and the
aesthetic nature of man. It leaves its impress upon one’s very soul, even after the fire has been subdued by time and circumstance.
Memories of love never pass. Every person, who has been moved by genuine love, knows that it leaves enduring traces upon the human heart. The effect of dures, because love is spiritual in nature. The man who cannot be stimulated to great heights of achievement by love, is hopeless—he is dead, though he may seem to live.
Love is, without question, life’s greatest experience. It brings one into communion with Infinite Intelligence. Love is capable of driving men to heights of super achievement. Love has the potential of exciting the genius in many humans. Love is the emotion which serves as a safety valve, and insures balance, poise, and constructive effort.
Love as a command.
Jesus commands his disciples to love one another just as he has loved them. It is this love for one another that will identify them to everyone as his disciples. He leads by example by loving them first before commanding them to love one another.
In another instance the greatest commandment that Jesus ever taught us is that of loving God with all our heart, soul and strength. And how wonderful this is, loving God who is love himself! And how do we know if that we truly love God? It’s simple; by keeping his commands. If we truly love God then it wouldn’t really be difficult to remain always faithful and keep his commands. And it doesn’t end there! A big question arises; how can we love God whom we haven’t seen when we do not love our neighbours or our brothers and sisters whom we see everyday? We would be lying to ourselves. That brings us to the second greatest command ; Love your neighbour as you love yourself.
Conclusion of the matter.
Love is pivotal in our lives and all that surrounds us. We’ve explored love in varous ways from God himself being love, love as a command to us, loving God and how he himself loved us first to the point of sending his only son Jesus Christ to die for us, loving your neighbour etc.
However the big question still remains do we still have a choice to love or not?
In my view we’re obliged to love just ad Christ commanded us.
In whatever you do no matter how mighty it would look like without love all is nothing . Even though you can have faith that moves mountains or speak in the language of the angels without love all is nothing and you still have a long way to go!
The greatest of commands is Love.
Amos Odira.