Power in Language and Love

There is power in the use of words. Take, for example, the difference between the words “enjoy” and “love.”

When we say we enjoy something, we know that there is a temporary feeling attached to the thing we are enjoying. Our emotions are kept at a safe distance and the sense of control and choice are fully intact.

We can choose to like it or not. We can stop the experience at any time, and later we can log it has a nice memory.

When we say we love something, that emotion comes with a piece of us: our soul, our being. We are giving something precious away, and there is permanence to the emotion. There are expectations, there is hope—and there is trust, hurt and betrayal when the thing we love goes good or bad.

There is focus and intentionality.

God knows our capacity to love has a limit, and it was intended to be reserved to just loving him and his children.

Each time we love something else — a job, creation or hobby — we have diluted our love for God.There is a freedom when we enjoy the world and the things in it, but love God and his people.

1 John 2:15-17, On Not Loving the World:

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Just a thought…

#justathought