Who Loves You?

How many people agape you? Most of the people who would say, “I love you,” are saying that they have what Greeks would call “eros.” It is a desire for something that brings us pleasure. Another possibility is “phileo.” That is a tribal or familial love. If I only love my troublesome little brother because he is family, that is phileo. Gangs have this for fellow members. If someone likes being around us, but isn’t really crazy about making sacrifices for us, it is likely that whatever they are calling “love” is not agape. Agape makes sacrifices without asking for a receipt or a credit. If 3 or 4 people have agape for you, you are wealthy.

How many people do you agape? It is costly. It is painful. It is a manifestation of the presence of Jesus, though, because it is a fruit of His Spirit. It is evidence of Him being present. When you allow Him to agape someone through you, you experience something of His joy in doing it. You also experience something of His pain, though. Even that is valuable. To be so close to Him in experience and in relationship that you experience some of anything that is real to Him is beyond a value that can be stated in earthly wealth.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had, and bought it.”
(Matthew 13:44-46 HCSB ©®)