Agape is a Greek word denoting constant love and unselfish giving. “In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses a deep and constant ‘love’ and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential ‘love’ in them towards the Giver, and a practical ‘love’ towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver.” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary Of Old and New Testament Words). God is love, and He is the one from whom agape flows: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God  demonstrated His unselfish love for an unlovable world by sacrificing His Son. In marriage, agape is a deliberate, lifelong commitment to one’s mate, a commitment to give because of love and not because of what one expects in return. It is evident from the number of divorces in the world today that agape is the missing ingredient in many marriages. We have been deluded in our society to believe that love is an emotion, a state of “feeling” which we uncontrollably fall into and out of. This false impression produces excuses such as: “I do not love him anymore,” and contributes to our high divorce rate. Agape love is not a feeling or attraction, but rather is an affection which we learn through commitment, persistence, and experience in marriage, as well as in life. The love that never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8) should help us to remain committed to the promises we made on our wedding day, to love our mate “for better, for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health,
till death do us part.” Through prayer and study we can expect God to help us develop agape.
Since agape love is a willful commitment to give, it must be followed by action. The more of it we give away, the more of it we will receive. Regardless of how little love we receive in our marriage, we will always have love because we gave it. Lord, help us to put agape love to work in our lives.

—Dale Grissom, church of Christ in Dexter, Missouri
via The Voice of Truth International
 

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