He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love…And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:8 and 16
The world’s attitude of what love is leans more towards the emotional and selfish end of the spectrum whereas God’s definition of love is selfless and it is active towards those who are being loved.
Because God hates the sin and sinner (Psalm 5:5) does not mean that He does not love sinners as well. He loved them so much that He gave His only Son to die for them (John 3:16).
The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Psalm 5:5
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
If God had not loved the world He would not have given fully of Himself to the point of death in order to save them. Had he not cared and done nothing (apathy) then that would be the antithesis of true love for sure.
The KJV Bible is the most accurate in defining what love is when compared to the new versions which are born out of the Alexandrian scripts. People today tend to claim that the so-called archaic language used in the KJV is not needed. The KJV actually contains a better clarification of what love is in that in many places where the new versions state only ‘love’ the KJV uses ‘charity’. I love the fact that charity carries a deeper meaning of what love is in that it is a selfless attitude towards others.
Charity by definition dictates that love is action selflessly directed towards others. This indeed goes beyond mere emotions. Emotions have their time and place but they should not dictate the overall directions of our actions as God’s Word and His Spirit are required for us to properly qualify whether the emotions are properly focused or not.
Without God’s guiding help we are at the whim of our carnal flesh in dictating what is true or false in regards to love or so-called love. That is a dangerous place to be for sure.
Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines charity best:
CHARITY, noun
1. In a general sense, love, benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men.
1 Corinthians 8:1. Colossians 3:14. 1 Timothy 1:5.
2. In a more particular sense, love, kindness, affection, tenderness, springing from natural relations; as the charities of father, son and brother.
3. Liberality to the poor, consisting in almsgiving or benefactions, or in gratuitous services to relieve them in distress.
4. Alms; whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the poor for their relief.
5. Liberality in gifts and services to promote public objects of utility, as to found and support bible societies, missionary societies, and others.
6. Candor; liberality in judging of men and their actions; a disposition which inclines men to think and judge favorably, and to put the best construction on words and actions which the case will admit. The highest exercise of charity is charity towards the uncharitable.
7. Any act of kindness, or benevolence; as the charities of life.
8. A charitable institution. Charity-school, is a school maintained by voluntary contributions for educating poor children.
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