Agape-Selfish Love?

As we head into the over the top, chocolate riddled, commercialized holiday known as Valentine's Day, the topic of love is most definitely in the air.  The Bible teaches us about 4 different types of love:

Eros - love between husband and wife

Songe - love shared within the family

Philia - love between brothers in Christ

Agape - sacrificial and selfless love

Let's take just a moment to discuss the love displayed by one particular man.  This particular man did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted despite what others wanted.  Rather selfish if I say so myself, nothing like the love that we would expect from someone who claims to love us.  The number one focus in this man's life was to achieve his goal at the specific moment that he had chosen to achieve it.  It was, however, this man's goal that made all of the difference in the world!  

Who other than Jesus Christ to display such a selfish love?  Uh, selfish?  Wait a minute, Jesus displayed Agape (selfless) love toward us...right?

Yes He did!  He selflessly came to earth humbly before man in order to show His selfish love for us.  He selflessly came to save you and me, and nothing was going to stop Him from doing so.  He ignored and spoke against the religious authorities of His day as He selfishly loved and served others when the Law clearly stated not to.  He didn't care. He knew who He was and had a message that He was going to deliver whether they liked it or not.  In a matter of fact, Jesus' love is so selfish that He refuses to let go of anyone who has ever called upon Him as their Savior.

Today's society claims that Christ is selfish, egotistical, intolerant and unloving, but had He not selfishly come to serve others before Himself, had He not selfishly displayed His love, had He not selfishly wanted us more than Himself, we could never understand just how unselfish, humble, tolerant and loving He truly was.  Had He not stretched His hands out wide and had He not given His life in order for us to gain life, we would all be hopelessly and utterly lost. 

Now, I don't know about anyone else, but this Valentine's Day, it is my prayer that we all become just as selfish as Christ in our love for each other!

Have a blessed week!

Scott