1 John 4:8 English Standard Version (ESV) Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

The Greek language distinguishes four different kinds of love: Philia, Eros, Storge and Agape.

Philia is a friend’s love.

Eros is erotic love.

Storge is family love.

Agape is perfect love.

Which of these do we feel?

Who has a friend that is a lifelong friend? If you do, you are lucky. My best friend drowned in the Atlantic while I was serving my country. I cannot say we would have been lifelong friends, we never got the chance.

Erotic love has ruined many marriages. Chasing after passion is a fool’s game. Keep it up and you will end up alone with no passion in your life. I’ve seen it happen over and over again.

Storge love is very complicated. Family dynamics are complicated. Sibling rivalry is no joke and family members can cause us the greatest pain, or the closest bonds. There are always strong feelings in families and not always positive.

No one is perfect in love but God. Paul gave us the love chapter describing perfect love and when we look at how it acts we see ourselves coming up short in performance.

The interesting thing about all these different kinds of love is that they are a reciprocal force. You have to give love to receive love. If we do not put forth the effort we don’t feel love is returned.

1 Corinthians 13:8a English Standard Version (ESV) Love never ends. 

God’s perfect love never dies, never fades, never is lost and if we don’t feel it, that isn’t God’s fault.

We cannot love God perfectly. Agape love does not get returned to God as a reciprocal force. The Word of God does not say to love God perfectly but rather to make an honest effort. With all our strength has limits, we are human, make the effort and don’t condemn ourselves because we are not perfect.

A wise counselor once told me, “If you don’t feel like doing it, don’t.”