Why is it so hard to love and to be loved?
Received this quote recently… “Love is not just a sentiment. Love is a great controlling passion and it always expresses itself in terms of obedience.”
I visited New Delhi, Kashmir, Agra and Jaipur last Dec with a group of friends, saw the beggars sleeping along the road, starving children clinging to their parents… a very pathetic sight. The only things we offered were those shampoo and conditioners, chocolates and sweets we brought along…
Lately I visited some orphans in Chiang Mai in Thailand with a group of church committees. I was touched by the gesture of appreciation from these kids. To thank us, they woke up 5 am in the morning to take 4 hours transport from the mountain to meet us, together with the cabbages and carrots they harvested. Could you imagine the time and effort they spent in growing these veg with their little loving hands, compared to the funds we raised to build a school for them, honestly our efforts seems so little…
As a Singaporean who is living in a comfortable country with almost everything is provided, who don’t understand the poverty, despairs and deprived of many things… I feel guilty on the other hand I feel very loved and blessed by God. Again, could I make a difference to this world with my little effort? How?
THE LAW OF LOVE
The Greek language has three words for love, which enable us to distinguish Christian love (agape) from passionate devotion (eros) and warm affection (philia). Jesus did not tell his disciples to fall in love with their enemies or to feel for them as they felt for their families and friends. Agape is a gracious, determined, and active interest in the true welfare of others, which is not deterred even by hatred, cursing, and abuse, not limited by calculation of deserts or results, based solely on the nature of God. Love does not retaliate (vv. 27-31), seeks no reward (vv. 32-36), is not censorious (vv. 37-38).
Agape means “love” in modern day Greek. The term s’agapo means “I love you” in Greek. The word “agapo” is the verb “I love”. In Ancient Greek it often refers to a general affection rather than the attraction suggested by “eros”; agape is used in ancient texts to denote feelings for a good meal, one’s children, and the feelings for a spouse. It can be described as the feeling of being content or holding one in high regard. The verb appears in the New Testament describing, amongst other things, the relationship between Jesus and the beloved disciple. In biblical literature, its meaning and usage is illustrated by self-sacrificing, giving love to all–both friend and enemy. It is used in Matthew 22:39, “Love your neighbour as yourself,” and in John 15:12, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you,” and in 1 John 4:8, “God is love.”
