Walking With Christ

1 Samuel 18:1 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.(ESV)

Ruth 1:16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.(ESV)

Job 2:13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.(ESV)

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.(ESV)

The creation story shows us that mankind was unique amongst all of the creatures created. All of the animals were created in pairs except man. Adam was created alone. He was shown all of the other creature types that God had created so that he could name them. In doing so, he saw that he was not like any of them. There was no partner for him. Adam (mankind) was created in the image of God, a three part eternal being that had always existed together in harmonious relationship, but was alone with no relational partner. The need for relationship is a part of human nature because we were made in the image of God. Every relationship is built on love, but not all love is the same. The Greeks identified five different types or ways of loving other people. It’s possible to feel and express more than one type of love for the same person or group of people at the same time.

1. Xenia: Hospitality, love for strangers
2. Philia: Friendship, brotherly love
3. Storge: Familial, affectionate
4. Eros: Romantic, passionate
5. Agape: Selfless, unconditional

Humans are capable of Xenia, Philia, Storge, and Eros. Only God is capable of Agape love. Friendship and brotherly love, Philia, is not easily differentiated from familial and affectionate love, Storge, as in the cases of Jonathan and Ruth. Both left blood family to choose to stay with a friend. The hallmarks of a biblical friendship, one that transcends blood, include loyalty, sacrifice, encouragement, faith, forgiveness, and grace.

Shared genetics doesn’t make a family. Shared trials, laughs, pain, triumphs, and so much more do build relationships that go far beyond anything that shared genetics could offer. Sprinkle in forgiveness and grace for the perfect blend that is the spice of life. Remember that relationships are built on love and love is not an emotion, it’s a choice. We choose who we love and how we love them. We may not always be able to tell why we love who we do the way we do. That’s ok. What’s important is that we do love. We were given love before we knew what it was. It’s a free gift that only increases the more we try to give it away.