Beware of who you love

Beware of Who You Love

What are you saying to someone when you are saying, "I love you?" What is the message that you are sending to them. People used these words so loosely, and never take thought to how they are using them.

The wonderful thing about the English language is that the words in our language derive from many other languages. Sometimes the English language doesn't do the words justice. The Greeks have four definitions of love.

There are four types of love in classic Greek:

1. Affection love - Greek word= eunoia  (1Cor. 7:3) example parent/child

2. Friendship love -Greek word = phileo (second most common Greek word for love in Scripture). Example friends

3. Erotic love - Greek word= eros (not used in Scripture) example relationships

4. Selfless love - Greek word= agape [ar-gar-pay] (the most common word for love in the New Testament.  Example over all over for humanity

Here is where the problem comes in. When a person says "I love you," HOW DO THEY LOVE YOU? Do they love you the same way you love them?

A good example, You can be in a relationship and you can tell him/her, "I love you ," and the love you may have towards him/her maybe eros. You want to build a life together and marry and have kids etc. However, when he/she tells you that they "love you," they maybe feeling something different than you do. They may feel the phileo type love.

So, when this person is not taking the relationship seriously, you don't understand why because they said, "I love you," there is a misunderstanding. You’re making wedding plans in your head while the other person is getting all the goods waiting for someone better to come along. The sad part is they might very well mean they love you, it just doesn't match up with you interpretation of love. SO, BE CAREFUL WHO YOU LOVE AND WHO LOVES YOU. The next time someone tells you they, "Love you," throw them for a loop and ask them to explain how and why they love you.