A Bible verse about love:
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
It is widely understood that the greatest precept in the entire Bible is the aspect of love. Love for God, love for our neighbors, and love for ourselves. Literally, everything can be brought back to the principle of love.
While that is commonly accepted, I have to laugh at myself when I’m reminded of it.
That’s because, for most of my entire life, I had no idea.
The Bible was a rulebook in my mind. While it is, in a way, a more appropriate means of describing it would be a guidebook of how to love.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear
The first part of this verse goes hand in hand. Perfect love would also be akin to unconditional love. It’s that love for which we should aspire to.
Aspire, but never attaining. I think that humanity is generally incapable of the truest form of unconditional love. For the most part, we are held back by our own limitations – doubt, insecurity, fear, or a number of other emotions.
But true, unconditional love replaces those negative emotions. We might find glimpses of it, but it would be incredibly difficult to live in a way where that’s our entirety.
Because fear has to do with punishment
I can’t necessarily ascribe to this principle, or at least I’m having a difficult time understanding it.
To me, fear has more to do with a selfishness than punishment.
I fear that the person I love will hurt or disappoint me. I fear that I will be made to look a fool. Or I fear that if I am vulnerable I will ultimately lose that love.
The common theme is that I fear how it will affect me; conversely, that is akin to selfishness.
To truly be selfless, one has to be so preoccupied about thinking of others to not even have the time to regard oneself – especially to not consider how selfless they are being (ironic, no?)
I don’t understand how punishment is seen in this regard. Maybe someone can clarify that for me?
The one who fears is not made in perfect love
This I can agree upon based on our breakdown. In order to have perfect (unconditional) love, there can’t be any fear.
Since the root of fear is a selfish emotion, if fear exists then so does selfishness.
If selfishness is present, then unconditional love certainly is not.
When fear thrives in a relationship, the derivative is, “How is this relationship going to affect me?”
Conversely, when selfLESSness is present, the result is, “How can I affect this person and this relationship in a positive way?”
This, I submit, is the means we are to live our life – in all of our relationships. Not just with our family members, not with our church members, but with all who come across our paths.
Difficult, yes?
That is why I generally believe it’s not possible for 99.999% of humans.
That shouldn’t dissuade you, because I also believe that it’s the pursuit of this unconditional love which really matters.
What are your thoughts?
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