How to Obtain Love And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,

and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. -Mark 12:30-31 Jesus Himself commanded us to love God with everything that we have and to love one another as we love ourselves. This is good news because Jesus would never bid us to do something we are unable to do. Of course, such things must be done through His power which He is more than willing to provide. This article will seek to inform the reader what love is and how to obtain this love. After all, if we do not know what love is and how to love, we shall fail of 1 Corinthians 13 has a great deal to say about love, so we will begin there. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. -1 Corinthians 13:1 This verse makes it clear that a person who is talented but yet lacks love can become a nuisance rather than a blessing. A person may have the best talents of public speaking, singing, and time management, but if the person is arrogant, inconsiderate, and unloving, the person's attitude will undermine their talents. And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2 Knowledge, even if the knowledge is about the Bible and spiritual things, can be worthless if it is in the possession of an unloving person. The Pharisees, who were known for their thorough acquaintance with the Old Testament,(See ) were rebuked by Jesus for being unloving. Though they knew the theory of the Bible more than many people in their time, their lack of love made them worthy of rebuke. The same idea applies to faith. The Pharisees were living by faith in that they were organizing their lives according to a certain pattern because they believed that by doing so they would inherit eternal life. Though this faith could have led them to accomplish something that seems as difficult as moving a mountain, if they did not have love, their faith would be worthless. And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Here again the Pharisees can be used as a great example. The Pharisees often did good deeds in order to be recognized and commended by other men. Though they did this, their hearts were not in the activity, and thus it remains true that they lacked love since Jesus made this clear in Matthew 23. Even if someone were to suffer death for the sake of a cause, if they lacked love, the sacrifice made would not be worth anything in the eyes of God. Such acts as are listed in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 are acts which, if done without true, genuine, heartfelt love, would not bring any man in favor with God. Thus far it can be concluded that above being talented, above knowing the theory of the Bible, above doing acts of kindness, is having love and knowing how to demonstrate it to both God and men.

So, how is it then, that one can obtain this kind of love? Fortunately, the Bible holds the answer to that question. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. - John 13:34 One way to obtain it is by looking at the way Jesus loved humanity while He was on earth and acting out what He did to and for people towards others. How do we love God then? We love him, because he first loved us. -1 John 4:10 The only way that we can love God is by first seeing the love He has for us. This is done by getting to know God, by studying His character, through reading and studying the Bible. What does loving God look like? If ye love me, keep my commandments. -John 14:15 How is this practically applied? We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; -2 Corinthians 4:13 So what if you feel you do not have this type of love? Is there anything else you can do aside from reading the Bible? Yes. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. -Matthew 7:7-8 How can I stay motivated to keep on loving God and my fellow man? For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. -2 Corinthians 5:14-15 How did Jesus demonstrate His love for us in a practical way that we can show others? Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. -Matthew 20:28 Seek to minister to others. Seek to provide happiness to others by lightening their cares. Love will flood your heart as a result.