I am not going to make this a long post. It will be short, sweet, and to the point. It amazes me that so many use the word “love” and yet not really know the meaning of that word. You often hear many people throwing around the word ”love”. It could be to a significant other, family member, friend, co-worker, etc. Actually, it’s been used so much people use it with people they don’t love. Sometimes you expect to see that word improperly used, especially accompanied by youth who think they are in love with a young woman or young man. However, I don’t expect to see it as much in people who confess that they are followers of Christ. It disheartens me to see that in the Body of Christ. We are the ones who should be examples of what it really means to love and not the ones who should be shown how to love.

1 Corinthian 13: 4-8 (Amplified)

4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy ([d]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].

This is the real meaning of love. Yet, what I have been seeing that many having being perceiving as love seems to be selfish. We can’t insist what we want for others over what they desire or what God desires for them. Love is not loving someone only when they can offer you things that you want without you ever giving. Love is not rude and says things to purposefully hurt people. Love is not controlling or manipulating a person to get them to do what you want them to do. Love is not turning your back on others at the drop of a dime. Love is not eagerly waiting for the downfall or failures of others. Love is not tearing others down instead of building one another. If this is the so called “love” that we are showing to others, it is only doing more damage. Love is not only a word. Love is indeed an action, but be sure that the right actions are following your words. Do some introspection and see whether you showing love or what love is not.