In the English language, we have one word for love and use it so frequently and lightly that it often loses its meaning. For example, we will say we love our family, but we also say that we love food. Obviously there is a difference, but we use the word so flippantly that many have a difficult time defining true love. Some say it is an uncontrollable feeling of excitement, others say it is a conscious choice one makes. Some say it comes naturally and others say you have to work at it.
The best place to examine what love looks like is in the Scriptures. We are told very plainly that God is love (1 Jn. 4:8). This means that love is not simply something God does, but is the essence of who He is. Therefore, to grow in our knowledge of love we must grow in our knowledge of God and His word.
The Bible clearly indicates that love is one of the clearest marks of a believer. Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13:35). A.W. Pink affirms, “In 1 Corinthians 13…the Holy Spirit tells us that though a professing Christian can speak fluently and eloquently upon Divine things, if he has not love, he is like metal, which, though it makes a noise when struck, is lifeless. That though he can prophesy, understands all mysteries and knowledge, and has faith which brings miracles to pass, yet if he be lacking in love, he is spiritually a nonentity. Yea, that though he be so benevolent as to give all his worldly possessions to feed the poor, and yield his body to a martyr’s death, yet if he has not love, it profits him nothing. How high a value is here placed upon love and how essential for me to make sure I possess it” (116-117)!
2) We know we have profited from the Word when we learn the sad perversions of Christian love.
Pink affirms, “While it is true that spiritual love is characterized by meekness and gentleness, yet is it something very different from and vastly superior to the courtesies and kindnesses of the flesh” (118). For example, many parents today refrain from disciplining a child because they claim to love him/her too much. They fail, however, to realize that they are doing a great disservice to their child. According to Pink, “It is a wicked perversion of the word ‘love’ to apply it to moral laxity and parental looseness” (118).
3) We know we have profited from the Word when we understand the true nature of Christian love.
Pink defines Christian love as, “A spiritual grace abiding in the souls of the saints alongside faith and hope (1 Cor. 13:13). It is a holy disposition wrought in them when they are regenerated (1 Jn. 5:1)…It is the very reverse of that principle of self-love and self-seeking which is in us by nature” (118). Pink goes on to explain, “Love could deny an urgent request (Jn. 11:6)…and denounce hypocrites (Mt. 23:13-33). Love can be stern (Mt. 16:23) (and) angry (Mark 3:5). Spiritual love is a holy thing: it is faithful to God (and) uncompromising toward all that is evil” (119).
4) We know we have profited from the Word when we rightly exercise Christian love.
Many make professions of love, but mere professions are not proof of love. This is why divorce rates are high in our country. Many have stood before God and men and made vocal commitments to love someone “for better or for worse,” but in practice have not honored that commitment.
Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (Jn. 14:15). He was calling for His disciples to prove their love by attaching themselves to Him and yielding to all His requirements and by patiently doing His will in the face of ridicule and opposition. The way to tell if a person genuinely loves God is when they do what they say and not simply say what they would do. My prayer for all believers is that what they do for God would give validity to what they say about Him and to Him.
Pink, A.W. Profiting from the Word. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: The Banner of Truth Trust. 1977. 115-124.
The best place to examine what love looks like is in the Scriptures. We are told very plainly that God is love (1 Jn. 4:8). This means that love is not simply something God does, but is the essence of who He is. Therefore, to grow in our knowledge of love we must grow in our knowledge of God and His word.
THE SCRIPTURES AND LOVE
1) We know we have profited from the Word when we understand the great importance of Christian love.
The Bible clearly indicates that love is one of the clearest marks of a believer. Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13:35). A.W. Pink affirms, “In 1 Corinthians 13…the Holy Spirit tells us that though a professing Christian can speak fluently and eloquently upon Divine things, if he has not love, he is like metal, which, though it makes a noise when struck, is lifeless. That though he can prophesy, understands all mysteries and knowledge, and has faith which brings miracles to pass, yet if he be lacking in love, he is spiritually a nonentity. Yea, that though he be so benevolent as to give all his worldly possessions to feed the poor, and yield his body to a martyr’s death, yet if he has not love, it profits him nothing. How high a value is here placed upon love and how essential for me to make sure I possess it” (116-117)!
2) We know we have profited from the Word when we learn the sad perversions of Christian love.
Pink affirms, “While it is true that spiritual love is characterized by meekness and gentleness, yet is it something very different from and vastly superior to the courtesies and kindnesses of the flesh” (118). For example, many parents today refrain from disciplining a child because they claim to love him/her too much. They fail, however, to realize that they are doing a great disservice to their child. According to Pink, “It is a wicked perversion of the word ‘love’ to apply it to moral laxity and parental looseness” (118).
3) We know we have profited from the Word when we understand the true nature of Christian love.
Pink defines Christian love as, “A spiritual grace abiding in the souls of the saints alongside faith and hope (1 Cor. 13:13). It is a holy disposition wrought in them when they are regenerated (1 Jn. 5:1)…It is the very reverse of that principle of self-love and self-seeking which is in us by nature” (118). Pink goes on to explain, “Love could deny an urgent request (Jn. 11:6)…and denounce hypocrites (Mt. 23:13-33). Love can be stern (Mt. 16:23) (and) angry (Mark 3:5). Spiritual love is a holy thing: it is faithful to God (and) uncompromising toward all that is evil” (119).
4) We know we have profited from the Word when we rightly exercise Christian love.
Many make professions of love, but mere professions are not proof of love. This is why divorce rates are high in our country. Many have stood before God and men and made vocal commitments to love someone “for better or for worse,” but in practice have not honored that commitment.
Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (Jn. 14:15). He was calling for His disciples to prove their love by attaching themselves to Him and yielding to all His requirements and by patiently doing His will in the face of ridicule and opposition. The way to tell if a person genuinely loves God is when they do what they say and not simply say what they would do. My prayer for all believers is that what they do for God would give validity to what they say about Him and to Him.
Pink, A.W. Profiting from the Word. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: The Banner of Truth Trust. 1977. 115-124.
