Having procrastinated until the 11th hour, they frantically look for the correct card before heading to the candy aisle, then stop by the flower counter for a special-priced bouquet. Pleased with their purchase, the pressure now off, they know they will not hear those dreaded words, “You forgot again.”

We are all expected to remember special days, and show our love by giving a special card, box of candy, and bouquet of flowers. As you know, I am speaking about February 14, Valentine’s Day. It’s a day when men show their love to that special someone in their life. But real love is more than this!

The real question we need to ask, “What is love?” Well, the dictionary defines love as “a strong affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interest arising out of kinship or personal ties.” This is true, but rather vague.  True love is more than this!

Honestly, if you don’t have God’s perspective on love you cannot truly love another person or even yourself properly.

Wisdom would tell us to see what God says about love in the Bible. Simply stated, the Bible says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8).  This does not mean God merely possesses love; but His essence is love.

WHAT LOVE IS NOT

The fullest description of love in the Bible is found in 1 Corinthians 13:1–13. Three illustrations are given in verses 1–3 to describe what love is not.

First illustration: “Though I speak with the tongues [languages] of men and angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1). In other words, though we speak eloquently with great auditory skill, but lack love, our words are hollow and empty. To the hearer our words are devoid of meaning, irritating, and turn the hearer off. Such speech is useless.

Second illustration: “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2). That is, one may be endowed: with great esoteric insights into biblical prophecies; foretell future events coming upon the world; able to clearly explain the most profound truths of the Scripture; and possess great faith that could move mountains. But without love, such abilities are empty and of no value to those listening.

Third illustration: though a person “bestow all [his] goods to feed the poor . . . [his] body to be burned, but have not love, it profits [him] nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3). Such sacrifice is meaningless if not done from a heart motivated by love.

In other words, love is greater than spiritual gifts, spiritual knowledge, and the personal sacrifice of one’s life for a cause.

WHAT LOVE IS

How are we to know what true love is? The following verses in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 provide 15 guidelines on how to practice true love:

•   Love suffers long (v. 4)—it patiently suffers abuse, criticism, and being defrauded, while enduring it without retaliating.
•   Love is kind (v. 4)—rather than retaliate to abuse, love shows kindness back to those who offend them in any situation.
•   Love does not envy (v. 4)—is not jealous over another’s success, beauty, or talent, but glad for it.
•   Love does not parade itself (v. 4)—bragging and boasting about one’s success.
•   Love is not puffed up (v. 4)—does not show conceit because of success.
•   Love does not behave rudely (v. 5)—never crude, rude, and thoughtless to others, but courteous, polite, gentle, and considerate of others in a godly way.
•   Love does not seek its own (v. 5)—is not selfish, or concerned about getting credit for one’s abilities, position, and accomplishments.
•   Love is not provoked (v. 5)—irritated, upset, short fused, aroused to anger.
•   Love thinks no evil (v. 5)—keeps no permanent record of the wrong suffered from another person, nor holds any resentment or grudge against an individual that offended them.
•   Love does not rejoice in iniquity (v. 6)—love is grieved when others sin, and does not gloat or gossip over the sins of others.
•   Love rejoices in the truth (v. 6)—a person of love will shun lies, and always wants to see truth triumph over evil.
•   Love bears all things (v. 7)—carries the burden of others, feels their pain, protects others from ridicule and harm. He also bears up under anything and everything against him refusing to retaliate.
•   Love believes all things (v. 7)—is not suspicious, cynical, and refuses to listen to negative comments about others.
•   Love hopes all things (v.7)—never despairs, but still hopes in a loved one when things look difficult for a family member, social situation, or life in general.
•   Love endures all thing (v.7)—continues to bear up under hurt, strain, and stress, patiently enduring whatever comes into his or her life without becoming discouraged.

LOVE IS ENDURING

God says, “Love never fails” (v. 8). This is not about one experiencing success in love with another individual, but means love never becomes obsolete; it survives everything, and endures throughout this life and eternity.

This chapter ends with, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (v. 13). The Scripture teaches that love is the greatest possession one can acquire outside of his or her salvation in Jesus Christ.

“The just shall live by faith.”In fact, the greatest commandment ever given to man is this, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart with all your soul, and with all your mind, and this is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39). Notice, you are to love everyone in your life as you would yourself. Honestly, if you don’t have God’s perspective on love you cannot truly love another person or even yourself properly.

How do we acquire God’s love? It begins by one’s relationship with God through Jesus Christ. If you have never put faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior, you cannot know or experience God’s love. Make that commitment now, and you will begin to know God’s love and see your life change.

Practice the 15 principles of what love is in 1 Corinthians 13, and you will see great changes in your relationship with the love of your life. Go to that person, explain what you have done, give them a copy of this love message, and explain that you went to begin loving him or her with a Godly love. It is the best gift you could give on February 14 or at anytime—much better than a card, candy or flowers.