8 COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT LOVE

This four-letter word L-O-V-E is the most complicated word I have come across so far. Everyone seems to have their own definition of love. To some, love is the physical attraction and intimacy they share with the opposite sex and to others, it’s connecting with someone on a deeper level(not necessarily sexually). There exist also certain individuals who don’t even believe in the existence of love. They claim that there is no such thing called love. So this leaves me with the question, what exactly is love? I for one had some misconceptions about Love, I was so certain that I knew what love is but it turned out I was wrong.

One of the definitions I came across is this: love is a strong emotional feeling shown to someone/something.

However, the Bible defines love as:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hope, always perseveres. Love never fails. . 1corinthians 13:1-8

Oh my! That’s a lot for just a four-letter word huh?

It also came to my notice that love is the first fruit mentioned in Galatians 5:22.

This brings me to the conclusion that there is more to love. In this post, I share eight(8) misconceptions about love. let’s get right into it.

THE 8 COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT LOVE

1.love is just an emotional feeling

This is the first among the common misconceptions about love. Contrary to popular beliefs, love is not just an emotional feeling. Love is spiritual, love is a command and a choice, love is a decision and above all this God is love. When asked what the greatest commandment, Jesus’ reply was “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30&31

2.I should only Love those I know/like

In the parable of the good samaritan(Luke 10:25-37). Jesus taught us that our neighbours are not just those close to us or the ones we know. Our neighbour is anyone we come in contact with. These are the people we interact with on a daily basis and these are the people we have the ability to help. This includes the bus driver, the conductor that has your change, or even that grocery owner that cheated you. If we love only the people we like what difference does it make?

“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Matthew 5:46&47

This has got to be the most popular misconception about love. I hear this a lot, almost all the time. love is not blind, we just choose to ignore the signs. Although God commands us to love he is also expecting us to be wise.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11

God never intended us to love blindly rather, he desires we love unconditionally. The type of love he has shown us.

4. I can Love on my own

I laugh at this😂 have you crossed paths with certain individuals whose sole aim is to ruin and frustrate your life? They can annoy the life out of you! Yet, we are commanded to love them. How is that even possible? Humanly speaking, it’s not. This just tells us that if we are to love the God type of love, then we need to be schooled and taught by the master Himself.

5. If I love myself,I am being selfish.

Nope! No! Nah!🙅‍♀️ you cannot give what you don’t have. The way you love and care for yourself is the same way you are expected to love others. It only becomes selfish when you hurt others for your own personal gain. The fear of being tagged “selfish” has made some of us say “YES” in places we were supposed to say” NO.” We refuse to set healthy boundaries because we fear the other person might see us as being selfish and we grieve silently. It’s not meant to be so!

6.The love of another human is enough

Most times we have in our heads what we think love is and we expect so much from the other person and then become frustrated when we do not get what we want or expect. The truth is, the other person may not even have the capability to love as you imagine. The love of God is the only love that is enough. When you start feeling that you need someone to be complete and you see yourself yearning for their approval, check yourself. We find our satisfaction in God and only in Him are we made complete.

We find our satisfaction in God and only in Him are we made complete.

7. Love is the same as sex

This is the most common misconception about love. We live in a society where literally everything is sexualized. From the movies we watch, the songs we listen to, and more. The bible teaches us(especially the youths) to flee from sexual immorality because our bodies are his temple. There are other ways to express our love for one another.

8. Love is reciprocal

Last but not least is this 50/50 concept.” if I love you, you must love me back.” Sometimes the people we love will never love us the same way we love them. Does that mean we stop loving them? Nope! Imagine, just for a second, God making the decision to stop loving us because we are not reciprocating his love. This is someone who walked the earth, felt your pain, watched you betray him and he still chose to die for you. Day after day, he calls out to you and waits patiently for you to answer. That, my friend, is the highest form of love, and most of us don’t even reciprocate it.

What other misconceptions about love do you think Christian youths and people, in general, have about love? comment down below.

All said and done, Love is the greatest gift given to man!

“And now these three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1corinthians 13:13

Prayer

Dear Father, I do not know how to love on my own. Please teach me how to love like you. This I ask in Jesus’ name.

AMEN!

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(2) Comments

Meshack Ishaya says:
Posted on October 3, 2020 at 9:44 AM

Great job, more blessings, wisdom and skills.
keep the good work, though it tarry, it will surely speak..

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1. admin says:
  Posted on October 3, 2020 at 9:59 AM
  
  Amen!
  Thank you sir for those words of encouragement.
  
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