WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?
In July 1984 pop singer Tina Turner released a hit song, “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” It won a Grammy Award in 1985 and became the title of a 1993 movie about the life of Turner and her escape from an abusive relationship with her husband. Although an important milestone in Turner’s career the song hardly carved out new territory in society’s misunderstood notion of love. Turner’s song called it “a second-hand emotion.” Elton John wondered if you can “feel the love tonight.” Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston sang “I will always love you.”
We know that absolutely love is essential in our lives. From the moment we are born until when we die. Love means everything to us. It means everything in our personal relationships with family, our friendship groups. Why? Because love is an intense, deep affection for another person(s). However, we know that no matter how much we love at some point love fails or changes we get disappointed and dejected, a second-hand emotion.
Why? We have unrealistic expectations! Songs about love are really not about love at all, but rather about affection and emotions.
The Eros love runs hot, it runs cold, it runs lukewarm. It brings tears of joy, tears of depression, screams of excitement, but also so much disappointment.
What we need is the love of God a different kind of love. The Agape love. The love through hell or high-water love. The love that kept Jesus on the Cross for us. A love that will never ever die! The love that is outlined in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. This love is a language that speaks to the heart of those it encounters.
And no matter how much you mess up at loving other people, no matter how much you mess up at being patient and kind, no matter how much we are envious or boastful or arrogant or rude, God’s love for us, never ends! Now that’s real love!
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King said: “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”
Revd Sheila A Belgrave
EmpowerHer to Rise Outreach Ministries