What Is Love?

The defining characteristics of self-love are “I,” “Me,” and “Mine.” Then I am like a spider in the middle of its web, with all the threads in my hand. Everything revolves around me. “I” am king, “I” am God, “I” must be loved, honored, and worshipped—otherwise “my” wrath is kindled. “I” have nothing to give, unless I can be fully compensated. “I” need everything and have a right to everything.

All of self-love’s energy is directed toward “I.” Nothing flows in the opposite direction—out to others.

God’s love causes His sun to shine on the righteous and the unrighteous. He sends rain over the evil and the good. All goodness flows out—nothing is too valuable to be given away. In the same way that the sun shines unselfishly and provides everything we need for food and clothing, God’s love shines forth and imparts all things that pertain to life and godliness.

Self-love takes care of one person—“I.” However, because this person always wants to be the object of self-love, they themself become controlled by self-love. Since self-love is always exclusive and separates itself from others, such a person—this “I”—soon falls prey to the suffocating power of self-love, which is Satan himself. Self-love ensnares its victim and kills it in a gruesome way.

The Holy Spirit has poured out the love of God in our hearts. This love gives us shares in itself, so that we ourselves gain control and are always looking for others on whom goodness can have an effect. God’s love provides us with a large field of work—the entire world—in which to labor; but self-love can only find a single person, this “I,” and even that it abuses and destroys.

Since God’s love is generous and creates life and joy wherever it is found, it is sought after and beloved; but self-love is hated everywhere.

Christ ascended on high and gave gifts to men. If we want to have gifts to give, we must ascend high enough above the dust of the earth to be able to see the need that reigns among the children of men. When these gifts are given without expecting any compensation, people are quite surprised because they are given selflessly. Even the most selfish get a glimpse of a love far beyond them—a love from on high. The nature of this love is quite different from the love that they are surrounded by. That is why it is written that the goodness of God leads us to repentance. We become recipients of a love that is outside of ourselves—one that is highly exalted above our own self-love. This love has a refreshing effect. People esteem it and are drawn to it. They want to receive it, just like the leaves of a houseplant on a windowsill turn toward the sun. This is true conversion. If we, like this plant, remain under the effect of the Sun of Righteousness, we will soon begin to blossom and to exude a pleasant fragrance. We have already received something to give. God’s love has implanted something of His own nature within us. We shun self-love and find our joy in abiding in the light and sharing those things that the light has caused to grow in us.

A man who is rich in this world can—if he is good—do much good and bring joy to many people. In the same way, a person who has gathered riches in God can use those riches to bring joy to many. If he has an abundance of wealth, he can entertain his friends without fear of running out of resources. If earthly riches can make us happy in this world, how much more valuable are the heavenly treasures that can make us eternally happy?

You will find the love of God when you allow it to lay hold of you. You will receive it freely, and you will be able to freely share its fruits with others.