To View the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uOTkAEE4LEo
SHOW NOTES
This week on the Hope Rescue Podcast, we continue our series on The Original Language of Love by focusing on what love is NOT. In our previous episode, we explored the four Greek words for love—Éros (romantic love), Storgē (familial love), Philía (friendship love), and Agápē (unconditional love). But just as important as understanding what love is, we must also recognize what love is not.
There is a significant difference between liking someone and loving them. To "like" someone means having a natural affinity or personal preference for them. But to love someone goes far deeper—it requires an attitude of submission to their needs and well-being. Love is a choice and a commitment, not just an emotional response.
Lust and love are often confused, but they are radically different. Lust is self-serving—it seeks personal gratification, pleasure, or gain. It desires to take. Love, on the other hand, is self-giving—it seeks the well-being of another, even at personal cost. True love asks, How can I serve and care for this person? Lust asks, What can I get from them?
The clearest biblical definition of love is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-6, which says:"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth." This passage highlights what love is and what it is not. Love is patient, kind, and selfless—but it rejects envy, pride, arrogance, and selfishness.
The Law of Honor
Tim introduces the concept of "The Law of Honor," which is deeply connected to love. If you truly love someone, you will honor them. Honor elevates others above yourself, even when society does not.
1 Corinthians 12:24 says, "But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it."
We naturally honor those in high positions—leaders, pastors, celebrities—but God calls us to honor those who seem “lesser” in the world’s eyes.
Society often values people based on instrumental value (what they contribute to the world), but God values us based on our intrinsic worth as His image-bearers.
We must be intentional about honoring and loving those who are often overlooked.
Our culture is increasingly moving toward a meritocracy, where people are valued only by their achievements. While merit is necessary in certain areas (e.g., hiring a skilled surgeon or pilot), love operates on a completely different principle.
You may not need to love the person flying your airplane—but in personal relationships, love cannot be based on merit.
Love is not transactional. It does not ask, What can you do for me? but instead, How can I serve you?
One of the biggest barriers to love is pride. Love is rooted in humility, while pride is rooted in self-exaltation.
Pride manifests in three ways:
Envy – Seeing others as obstacles rather than people. Prideful envy views life as a competition where others must be surpassed or torn down.
Boasting – Self-exaltation, often masking insecurity. Someone who boasts is seeking validation from others rather than resting in their identity in Christ.
Arrogance – Inflating oneself above others. The Greek word for arrogance means "to puff up," like a balloon. True love does not elevate itself—it serves.
Reflection Questions
Do I honor those I’m in relationship with? And do they honor me?
Am I more focused on my needs or the needs of others?
Am I serving others, or am I expecting to be served?
Do I seek to meet my own ego needs, or do I genuinely desire to reach others' hearts?
Love is not about pride, selfishness, or what we can get from others. True love humbles itself, honors others, and seeks to serve rather than be served. As we continue this series, we’ll dive even deeper into how biblical love transforms our relationships, our communities, and our lives.
Make sure to tune in next week for the next episode in this series!
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