Over the next weeks I would like to share components of a project I am working on related to virtues. The goal is to post each week on a different virtue. According to Merriam-Webster, virtues are related to “a commendable quality or trait” within us such as love, courage, and justice. Although the Bible lists and describes similar virtues, from a Biblical perspective we are commanded by Jesus to demonstrate these virtues in loving God and each other. And Biblical virtues can have deeper meanings, have expectations that run counter to the current culture, and if lived out within the Christian life are transformational in our life with God and with each other. I will start this weekly post with a foundational virtue, love, and each post will have three components. First, there will be a description of the virtue. The definition will be primarily from a Biblical perspective, and I will leave it up to the reader to compare and contrast the definition to a more cultural definition. Second, there will be a justification of the virtue from a Biblical perspective. And the discussion will conclude with what it means to apply each virtue to daily life. I hope you will find each week’s post on virtues thought provoking, beneficial and ultimately, transformational.
Description: The Word of God affirms that love is the central virtue in the Christian walk, and that loving God is the greatest commandment. And in a similar fashion God calls us to have this love for others. There are many types of love, but the love described in this virtue is agape love, which is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and therefore it only comes from God and it is then manifested through us. This love should flow from the inner core of our soul, mind and emotions, and should be in alignment with our character and our actions. Our love for God and for others should embody qualities such as patience, kindness, forgiveness, understanding, trust, righteousness, endurance, perseverance and hope.
Justification: Love is a central manifestation of God (“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” 1 John 4:16) and God has shown great love for us (“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16). Therefore, love should be a predominant characteristic of a Christian (“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39). The qualities of agape love are articulated in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”). And agape love is also a sacrificial love (“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15-13) and it goes beyond showing this love to family or friends, or those we care about or Like (But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44).
Application: Agape love goes beyond the emotional aspect of love seen in the world, as Biblical love is expressed through demonstrating a sacrificial love to God and to others. To fully love God means to fully trust God with every aspect of our life, and it includes seeking an ongoing fellowship with God, fully obeying God and His commands, and longing to spend eternity with Christ. It involves both an inward demonstration of love through such things as reading and meditating on God’s Word, having a fruitful prayer life, and worship, and an outward expression of love through sharing the gospel, submission, service and generosity. Additionally, we are to show this agape love to one another, and the parable of the Good Samaritan is a good demonstration of showing agape love by exhibiting a selfless resolve to serve others (Luke 10:25-37). Additional qualities of agape love can be seen in some of following verses (“if you pour yourself out for the hungry; and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” Isaiah 58:10; “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2; “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16).
I pray that you will ponder how the Biblical virtue of love can be transformational in your life.