**What Is Biblical Love? Understanding the First Fruit of the Spirit**
Introduction
Love is a word that many people know.
It's how we describe our thoughts about our family, friends, spouses, food, hobbies and our favourite songs.
When the Bible talks about love, however, it's a love that goes beyond feeling.
Love is the first characteristic that Paul lists for the Fruit of the Spirit:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…
Galatians 5:22–23, KJV
What is the reason for the first mention of love?
Love is the central theme of Christian life.
Jesus explained that the most important commandments are to love God and love our neighbor.
Biblical love transforms us toward people, in forgiveness, in service, in speech, and even in our representation of Christ.
What is Biblical Love?
Biblical love is more than an emotion.
An unselfish love for someone, based on God's truth.
Affectivity is sometimes the aspect of love.
It can be sacrifice at times.
Its sometimes means forgiving.
In some places it can be a correction.
Sometimes it means patiently waiting.
Sometimes the truth is hard to say, but it is the truth about what is love.
Biblical love isn't just feeling love for someone.
It's about the way we treat them.
Love is the first fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Paul starts his list with Love:
But what is the fruit of the Spirit is love...
This is significant.
The Holy Spirit doesn't merely make believers more knowledgeable.
He changes their nature.
One can learn many Bible verses and be as rude to others as a pig.
Growth in the spirit is manifested in relationships.
The Spirit gives us the ability to love God and others as Christ.
With the exception of God's love, everything else is secondary.
When Jesus was asked which commandment was greatest, He answered:
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Then He added:
"You shall love others as you love yourself.
Matthew 22:37–39
Love is, therefore, not an extras in Christianity.
It is an integral part of the commandments of God.
Love is the first love, and it is the love of God!
The first point about biblical love is that it starts with God.
Jesus told us to love God with:
All our heart
All our soul
All our mind
It is not to make God a small part of our life.
We should make our life with Him the basis of all our actions:
Our decisions
Our relationships
Our priorities
Our work
Our finances
Our speech
Our time
If the motive of our love for God is in the foreground, then the attitude towards the people changes.
Loving Your Neighbor
Jesus didn't stop there: loving God.
He commanded:
"Love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:39
You don't only live next door to your neighbor.
Jesus' teaching broadens our responsibilities for others – for those who are different from us, for those who may oppose us.
Christian love transcends barriers.
Jesus' told us to love our enemies.
It is one of the hardest of Jesus' teachings.
He said:
"Love your enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those that abhor you, and pray for those that spitefully use you...
Matthew 5:44
It's a completely different kind of love than normal human love.
People who love us are easy loves.
Jesus invites His disciples to show loving-kindness even to those who have offended them.
This is not the same thing as condoning evil or denying proper limits.
It is not taking revenge and saying no to revenge.
What does Love look like?
The best definition of biblical love is found in 1 Corinthians 13.
Paul writes:
But charity is longsuffering, and is kind...
1 Corinthians 13:4
Biblical love is:
Patient
Kind
Humble
Not jealous
Not boastful
Not selfish
Not easily provoked
Forgiving
Truthful
Persevering
This provides us with an action-centred definition.
Love isn't just a word we say.
It is something that we do!
Love Is Patient
Patience is one of the most evident expressions of love.
People make mistakes.
People disappoint us.
People misunderstand us.
Love doesn't always fly into a rage.
Provides space for expansion.
God's patient attitude towards man becomes our attitude towards others.
Love Is Kind
Kindness can seem minuscule.
A message.
A helping hand.
Some words of encouragement.
Hearing someone who is in pain.
But one little act of kindness can transform into a great expression of God's love.
The Holy Spirit creates a heart that is open to opportunities for good.
Love Is Not Selfish
Love is a self-giving kind of love that is biblical.
Jesus showed this in an ideal way.
He didn't come on earth for comfort or recognition.
He came to serve.
He gave His life for others.
Christian love then implores:
"How can I serve?"
rather than only:
"What can I get?"
Love Forgives
Forgiveness is one of the most difficult ways to express love.
Jesus spoke many times about the need to forgive those who wrong us.
Forgiveness is not forgetting.
It is not about the lack of care for justice or staying in unsafe situations.
It is to resist and not allow bitterness and revenge to take over.
As God has been merciful to us, we are to be merciful to others.
Love Tells the Truth
Biblical love is not the same as keeping one's opinion to oneself.
Occasionally, love needs correction.
Believers are instructed by Paul to speak:
"the truth in love"
Ephesians 4:15
Without love there can be no truth, and truth without love can be cruelty.
Without truth, love can turn into compromise.
The two are held together by the biblical love.
Love and the Cross
The best example of God's love is exemplified in Jesus Christ.
John writes:
We see the love of God when we see that He gave His life for us...
1 John 3:16
The cross shows us that biblical love involves sacrifice.
Jesus did not just declare that He loved us!
He demonstrated it.
Love Is More Than Romantic Feelings
Often, modern culture associates love with romantic love.
But Biblical love is so much more.
You can love:
Your children.
Your friends.
Your neighbors.
Strangers.
Your enemies.
Christian love does not just apply to romantic relationships.
It's a lifestyle.
Love in the Digital Age
This Fruit of the Spirit should also be evident in our online lives.
Ask questions or comment on others' work:
Is this loving?
Not all posts have to be tear-jerking.
It is a call for our words to never be intended to embarrass, mislead, incite or defame others.
Many people are becoming usernames and not humans on social media.
Biblical love teaches us that all people are of value.
Love Does Not Mean Weakness
Some people think the Bible's word for love means passive love.
But Jesus was loving when He was engaged in confronting hypocrisy.
He was loving when He corrected His disciples.
He was loving when He called people to repentance.
Courage can be love.
Love can establish boundaries.
Love can say no.
Evil can be faced by love.
Biblical love looks for what is truly good – not what is comfortable.
How does the Holy Spirit bring love in us?
The Fruit of the Spirit is not a product of the work of our wills.
The Holy Spirit works in us and makes us new.
As we:
Take time to spend time with God.
Read Scripture.
Pray.
Obey Christ.
Practice forgiveness.
Serve others.
Surrender selfish desires.
Our character begins to change.
We grow in our ability to love others in ways that we never thought we could do.
How to practice Biblical Love:
1. Forgive Someone
Pray to God to set you free from the pain of bitterness about a person who has been hurtful to you.
2. Encourage Someone
Send a text to someone today in need of some hope.
3. Feed someone without expecting anything in return
With NO intention to look good, do something helpful.
4.Pray for someone who is challenging to love
Jesus said His disciples to pray for their enemies.
5.When you want to say something good, say it.Say positive things!
When correcting, do so with love, not anger or pride.
How do I know if I am growing in love?
Ask yourself:
Am I getting better at being patient?
Is it more likely that I'll forgive sooner?
Is there a value to be gained from others who can't help me?
May I pray for others who hurt me?
Am I growing more selfless?
Are my words uplifting?
Am I concerned about truth, feelings too?
Am I becoming more like Jesus?
Spiritual development is usually slow.
Seek guidance not perfection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Biblical love prescribe feelings?
Can contain emotion but it is a lot more than what emotions are. Biblical love is a deliberate, sacrificial, committed and seeking another's good.
Do I have to like someone in order to disagree with them?
Yes.
Biblical love isn't based on everyone agreeing on everything. Christians may disagree with a dignified, humble and respectful treatment of others.
If we love someone does that mean we have to forgive them all?
Forgiveness and reconciliation go hand in hand but are not the same. Reconciliation can involve repentance, changed behavior, and rebuilding trust, and forgiveness can involve letting go of personal vengeance and bitterness.
How can I love my enemies?
Jesus instructs believers in praying for them, blessing them and not giving them what they deserve for their evil actions. You don't have to approve of an enemy, or give up wise boundaries.
Reflection
Love is the first fruit of the Spirit.
It's not a coincidence.
Christian living is all about love.
It's how we treat our families.
How we deal with challenging personalities.
How we communicate on the internet.
The way we forgive.
The way we serve.
Our attitude to those who disagree with us.
Finally, the way we are the image of Jesus.
The world doesn't need Christians to just say the word "love".
It must be exemplified in the lives of Christians.
In the heart change that occurs through the work of the Holy Spirit, love starts to overflow from the lips into our life.
The more we grow in our relationship with Christ, the more we should look like Him.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for showing us perfect love through Jesus Christ. Instruct me to love You with all my heart and to love others as You have said. Be patient when I am impatient; be kind when I am hurt; be humble when I am praised; be forgiving when I am wronged.
Take out selfishness and bitterness from my heart. Fill me with the love that is You, Jesus, in the power of Your Holy Spirit, that my words, my actions, my relationships and my decisions echo You.
Teach me - to speak of love, but to live it as well.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
