People see love in many different ways and in many different situations. This can be shown to those you have relationships with, or to random strangers that you meet. Love can be shown between a husband and a wife. Love can be shown between parents and children or siblings. Love can be shown within the brethren, the body of Christ. In English, we use the word love flippantly because that encases all types of love and we do not have to think about it too much. In other languages, Greek specifically, there are different words for different types of love.
There are four different types of love mentioned in the Greek that include Phileo, Storge, Eros, and Agape: Phileo or φιλέω; is a love that focuses on brotherly love. That between a brother or brother in Christ. Storge or στογή; is a familial love, refers to natural or instinctual affection, such as the love of a parent towards offspring and vice versa. Eros or ɛrɒs; is sexual attraction, sexual love that is to be between a husband and wife. When that kind of love is shown outside of the marriage it becomes fornication or porneia. Agape or Άγάπη; is affection, goodwill, love, benevolence: Of the love of men to men; especially of that love of Christians toward Christians, which is enjoined and prompted by their religion, whether the love be viewed as in the soul or as expressed. It is best known as self-sacrificial love.
Phileo, Agape, and at least a form of Storge are all used in the Bible, and the idea of Eros is shown in the Bible between husband and wife. Love can be shown in different ways. You can show people love by doing deeds for them without being asked, getting them gifts, showing kindness, and putting their needs first. Show them that you love them because they are worth it. Show them a self-sacrificing love! You can show your parents love by obeying them and they show love by taking care of you.
You can show love by treating others like they should be treated, with kindness and patience. Show the love that 1 Corinthians 13 tells us about. You can show love to people’s souls by teaching them the whole counsel of God! Make it known to people that you care about them and what happens to them. You can show love by making a meal for someone or taking care of their needs. The ways to show love are endless, but we need to be sure that we are showing love and not acting out of lust.
Some people have a false belief that lust and the things that come with it can be considered love, but lust leads to sin, and it is something that leads you in a way you should not go. The thought of doing sinful acts with someone you think you like is lust, not love. As much as we need to show love to the people in this world, we also have to be careful how we show love because we may do the wrong thing. We need to be the example of the believers in many ways, one of them specifically being charity (agape, love) (1 Tim. 4:12), and as Christians, we need to add to ourselves charity (2 Pet. 1:5-8). If we do that, we will be heading in the right direction like God wants. Let us show love in the right way and strive to be better Christians while doing it!
-Tyler Lundy
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