What is LOVE??? (半ZT 2007-04-16 )

What is LOVE??? (半ZT)

前幾天，忘記是在教堂還是在研經班裏，曾聽到大家的討論，什麽是愛？很想拍拍胸脯說，我知道。。。這就是愛！

但仔細想想，很模糊，很混淆，跟欲望與自私混淆，跟嫉妒與渴望混淆，太複雜，說不清。世上存在無私的愛嗎？仔細再想想，至少我對兒子的愛最接近無私，但對別人，說實話。。。。。。:P

昨 天，在教堂，聽見很多人談感恩，談上帝對我們的愛，很有觸動。我想，當人放棄包袱，從心底去感恩的時候，是否能接近對他人無私的愛呢？哪怕為今天我能吃上 飯，睡好覺，沒生病，在做事而感恩，因為世上還有很多人是沒有條件去思考的，因為他們正在為生存而掙紮。有時想想，我們還在矯情些什麽？放下心理的不平， 我開始感恩，好象感覺不錯:)

下麵引用的文裏講到，愛你的鄰居就像愛你自己，我知道能做到很困難，想想，如果真的去做了，得到平和與釋然的首先是自己的心靈，很好，不是嗎？

The most famous biblical chapter on love isfrom 1 Corinthians:

If I speak in the tongues of men and ofangels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. IfI have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, andif I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. IfI give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but havenot love, I gain nothing. Love is patient,love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is notproud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, itkeeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with thetruth. It always protects, always trusts,always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But wherethere are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will bestilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part andwe prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. WhenI was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like achild. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but apoor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know inpart; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these threeremain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians13:1-13)

This is a description of apage love. It isdescribed as being patient, kind, truthful, unselfish, trusting, believing,hopeful, and enduring. It is not jealous,boastful, arrogant, rude, selfish, or angry. True love neverfails. The description perfectly fits God's love toward us, and should be theway we love each other and God. However, I have never met any person whoperfectly fulfills this biblical definition of love. The Bible says that thisunconditional love is more important than everything else (a partial listincludes oratory ability, prophecy, knowledge, faith, philanthropy and hope).All of these things, which are "good" things, will pass away. Onlylove is eternal, since love will be the basis of eternal life. In fact, whenJesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He said,"YOU SHALL LOVETHE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALLYOUR MIND." (Matthew 22:37)9He then added that the second most important law was "YOU SHALL LOVE YOURNEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Jesus said that the entire law was dependent uponthese two commandments.9

If you are not a Christian, I hope you desire to express love as definedin the Bible. However, wanting to do so and attempting to do so in the power ofyour own will is guaranteed to fail. This kind of love is only possible throughrelying on the power of God, through faith in Jesus Christ. Even if you are aChristian, you will not succeed if you do not abide in Christ. May the Lorddirect your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.10