Love that Nourishes

Human love is fickle and stressful; it’s based on human emotions. Human love is too weak to carry two people through the vicissitudes or changes in life or each other. Human, earthly love is demanding. The mantra of human love is “If you love me, you will please me.” It demands loyalty, fidelity, respect, and commitment. Yet, because its focus is “what’s in it for me” it ends in conflict and disappointment. Ultimately human love sputters, runs out, gets depleted and suddenly “the thrill is gone.”

But there exists a greater love. This love has a different focus. It’s mantra has best been described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, “Love is patient and kind, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails!” This love experiences deep emotions but is not based on emotions. This love demands nothing; it gives everything.

This love provides an atmosphere for growth and maturity. This love is called “Agape” in the Greek language; it is the kind of love God is. It is the exercise of love based on a covenant designed to bring out the best in another person. This love endures the most difficult of circumstances because it understands human beings change through the years. Thus, it adapts, it improvises, it loves in the right measure and in the right way necessary for such growth to occur. It is not selfish.

This kind of love can experience highs and lows, joys and pains, yet remain consistent. This is the love necessary when two people join together in marriage. It comes as a gift of God to all who seek and surrender to God’s will. When you find a person with this kind of love, cherish him or her forever. For this is love that endures: Two people joined together in covenant providing each other an environment in which, through Christ they can become their best selves.