Give Love, Get Love?

On the way to church, I pass a sign in front of a business with this message:

Step One: Give Love
Step Two: Get Love

No! Nice sentiment, but theologically wrong. The type of love we encounter in the Gospels is not a transaction but a gift. We refer to this as agape love. “Agape” is one of several Greek words for love. When the word “agape” is used in the Bible, it refers to a pure, sacrificial love that intentionally desires another’s highest good. It is the love that God has for us.

No matter how you interpret the Cross and atonement, at the center of this act we find a loving, gracious God who gave not expecting anything in return. God has invested in us, supported us, and blessed us—not because we are worthy of that love but in spite of it.

If we love another person expecting that love to be reciprocated, is it truly love? How many parents have given love to children who turned away from them? Did the parent still love the child? Of course. Genuine parental love is based on sacrifice and giving not reward.

Romans 5:8 says, “But God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!” (Good News Translation) We do not deserve God’s love. We are rebellious by nature, but even so, God loves us.

This is the model for us. We love expecting nothing in return. In my way of thinking, such love is a blessing in itself. It is its own reward.

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