What is Love - Eros

Read:

Ephesians 5:28-29, “In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church”

Proverbs 5:18, "your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth”

Think:

Love is complicated. It is an emotion; it is an action. It can be a verb; it can be a noun. You can feel it, and you can know it is absent. Love has become a code word for a lot of things. It can mean acceptance, forgiveness, kindness, tolerance, or truthfulness to name a few.

Eros was a person of Greek mythology. He was the Greek god of love. In early Greek poetry and art, he was handsome in human form, carrying a lyre or bow and arrow. He became known as Cupid in Roman mythology and is depicted as a child carrying a bow and arrow. That’s where we get the cute little cherub we often see on Valentine's Day cards.

In the Bible, eros  is used to represent the physical intimacy between a husband and wife. Within the bounds of marriage, this eros love is to be celebrated. Sex between a husband and a wife is God-ordained and a beautiful communion of love and trust.

C.S. Lewis said, “We must do the works of Eros when Eros is not present. These all-good lovers know.” Never stop holding your spouse’s hand. Never stop sitting beside your loved one in the restaurant, keep looking into their eyes. Make the sacrifice.

Act:

Eros intensifies with unselfishness. Love takes work. The Bible tells us to love our spouse like Jesus, sacrificially. Think about something you can do today to lighten their load. Fold laundry, wash dishes, allow your spouse to go golfing, plan a spontaneous date. Find what communicates love to them and do it! And if you’re not yet married, look for a way to serve someone else. Sacrificial love is a learned skill!

Pray:

Jesus, Thank You for loving me unconditionally. Thank You for sending Your son to die for me. Show me how to love unselfishly. Amen.