The Definition of Love

Here are a couple of things the bible says about love:

The All time most quoted bible saying about love
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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 hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:5-7

So lets apply our definition of love to what this says; love is a choice to do what is best for another person. If I love someone, I will choose to be patient with them (be very slow to get angry with them). I will choose to treat them well (be kind). All these descriptions of love are ways of acting that we either choose to do or don't do. The great thing is that when you choose to treat people this way, it often has the side effect of great feelings and emotions. Though not always; see the following quote from Jesus...

Jesus on love
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

There are times when choosing to love someone comes at a great cost. You have to sacrifice something; time, money, energy, and sometimes the greatest cost will be giving up your own life so that someone else can live. When it really costs you something to persevere in a relationship or to help someone, that is the real test to find out if you truely love that person. If you bail out... guess what, you have just proved that you love yourself more than the person who needs your help. If you do whats best for the other person even though it is hard or costly for you... you have discovered real love. A love that you choose to execise regardless of how you feel.