Why Do We Love?

What motivates someone to love someone else? If it’s because there is excitement then the person probably isn’t being compelled by love but rather like or infatuation. People can say “I love you” pretty early in an exciting relationship, but the truth is they really mean, “I really really like you right now.” Love is a lot deeper than simply liking someone a lot. Love is selfless. The greatest example of love is Jesus dying on the Cross. Even if you really really like your new date, you probably aren’t ready to die for them.

Love is initially learned through parents and other good influences in our lives. Sharing is caring is taught from a young age. Kids are taught to say “Thank you” and to greet people kindly. These are very basic acts of love. Later in life people start to learn how to show acts of love in order to gain favor or strengthen a relationship. A guy may give a girl a dozen roses because he really likes her and he hopes she will like him more. People will make sacrifices for friends and then will often say, “You would do the same for me.” But when it comes to strangers, people are usually less likely to make the same sacrifices.

Anyone can say, “I love you” and have excited feelings inside, but love becomes more and more genuine as it is tested and proven to be selfless. True love is laying down your life for others (1John 3:16).

Romans 5:7-8 – For one will scarcely die for a righteous person–though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die–but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

That’s a love that is truly deep. That is a love that is truly selfless. We may make sacrifices for those who have blessed us, but Jesus died for all, even for those who spat on Him and mocked Him. We don’t love, in fact, we can’t love without God. We love because God first loved us (1John 4:19). God is love (1John 4:16). He is the very definition of love: of pure, selfless, strong, unfailing love. And we are able to love genuinely because we have encountered the God of love and we naturally reflect His image. We love because we’ve been touched by His love and our hearts are stirred for what He is stirred for. We love because He has given us grace to.

I would have never ever chosen to move to Korea if not for the love of God. I would have especially never chosen to move into a children’s home with 88 kids and social workers whose language I couldn’t speak. I would have never ever given up the potential of a good engineering job in America and instead live on support as a missionary if it wasn’t for the love of God working in my heart. I know living and working in America could have been easier for me. But God spoke very clearly and I had tasted too much of His love to reject His leading. So I obeyed and I don’t have any regrets. His love is better than life (Psalm 63:3)!.

Love is the narrow path. Love is selfless. Love is pure. Where in your life do you feel you’re walking the narrow path? What choices are you making that are different from the world around you? In what ways are you showing love, and is your love given freely or is there an expectation of return? If you can’t see yourself as any different than those around you, then ask God to know His love more (Ephesians 3:16-19). It’s when we get deep into His heart that we are willing and able to take whatever path He may have for us. His love never fails!

Ephesians 5:2 – And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.