What is love - REALLY? Part 2

To continue on what I have learned in my study of love, the next day I decided to see what suffer actually means. So, according to Webster, suffer is:

1. To feel pain or great distress
2. To sustain injury, disadvantage or LOSS
3. Endure or be afflicted with something
4. Undergo a penalty
5. Be subjected to or endure anything unpleasant
6. Tolerate or allow

Unpleasant? Loss? Disadvantage? Distress? This is a LACK of self concern, a COSTLY giving away, a disregard of self for the sake of others. (Sorry Halmark, there is no mention of a fluffy love that always feels good here) But we can love this way because God FIRST loved us – and His love was TRUE SUFFERING.

So the true meaning of love, God’s true intention, is that for us to love means that we must consider what is best for the whole, not just what feels good to us at the time. Love is not always what makes me feel better, nor is it always what makes the loved one feel better; actually, it is often the opposite. For example, if a child wants candy ONLY and always, love is saying no so he will have proper nutrition. I would be a sick parent to say, “But I love him so much, I’m going to let him eat only candy because it makes him so happy.” That will KILL him.

In adult relationships, love often means to say no to a request for help - it may be over-functioning to help in some situations. To relieve stress where the stress might teach a level of maturity or call a person beyond a state of passiveness. To help would rob them of that opportunity. That's not to say we never help, love may also mean denying yourself what you want to do in favor of giving your time to your brethren. This is why it is so vital to be seeking the Lord at all times - we need His discernment to lead our lives and to know what is best.

Love may also mean gentle but loving correction. It is a type of suffering to correct a brother or sister in love. Love, true love, is not always happy. We must suffer to love well.

Still more to come...