How To Love Everyone

There is currently a great deal of talk about loving everyone. How can we love everyone? The English language has one word for love which has different meanings. When someone say “I love you”– what does it really mean? The Greek language has at least “four distinct words for love”:

Agape—love, charity; “the love of God for man and of man for God.”
Eros—love, mainly of sexual passion.
Philia—love, affectionate feeling for friends, “friendship”, “brotherly love.”
Storge—love, affection for family.

According to the Bible, agape-love, charity, causes one to love God with all their heart; and to love others as one would be loved (Mark 12:30-31). It causes one to endeavor to love like Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8; Philippians 2:5-8).

People who believe that the God of the Bible is the only true God take their meaning for love and life from biblical Scripture “given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). For believers in the Scripture, agape-love adds meaning to other kinds of love. According to Hebrews 13:4, agape-love added to erotic-love leads to sexual expression within marriage, which is good in the sight of God. Speaking on the subject of love, chapter 13 of 1st Corinthians says, without agape-love or charity “nothing” done is seen as good by God (v.3).

Charity, agape-love, is “not self-seeking” (v.5). Charity keeps me from elevating myself with the gifts God has given me to lift him up (Colossians 1:16). Charity prevents me from giving so that I may boast or be proud. Without charity, the “good” that I would do, despite some temporary benefit, is as filthy rags in God’s estimation (Isaiah 64:6). Charity is Christ-like love—It seeks to please and glorify God; and do sacrificial service for the salvation and good of others (Philippians 2:5-8).

Agape-love comes by having repented and believed in Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior; and being filled with the Holy Spirit, which enables one to love God and everyone like Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38; Mark 12:30-31).