What Does Love Got to Do With It?

What's love got to do with it, got to do with it? What's love but a second hand emotion? We have all heard these famous lines from the famous Tina Turner. This song went to number one and was song of the year in 1985. The philosophy of this song set the stage for a new way of thinking about love. So is love a second hand emotion? Is love an emotion at all?

Our society would agree with this song and say love is an emotion just like sadness and happiness. We can either be in love or out of love. Not to mention, people make decisions on whether or not to get married based on financial security or if they are good in bed rather than love. So is Tina Turner right? Society would say yes...

Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 would disagree. Paul says love is patient, love is kind, love does not keep record of wrong, love conquers all. From Paul's perspective of love does not seem like an emotion based off the adjectives he uses. Love seems like an action that is chosen by the person loving. So as Christians what should we believe? Should we believe in the gospel according to Tina or 1 Corinthians 13?

It is easier to say 1 Corinthians 13, but much harder to live chapter 13. However, it is easier to live the gospel according to Tina. That is why we choose it over Scripture. If we decide we do not like the person any more or want to trade our "old" wife in for a newer model well we can do that and no one will look at us funny. However, as Christians, God has set a standard of holiness for all Christians to strive for. This is not optional it is commanded.

Last thing... what if God decided to fall "out of love " with the human race and divorce us for irreconcilable differences? What if God back in Genesis decided not to send His Son on our behalf? Where would we be?

I praise God that He did create love as a active choice and not a wind-blown emotion. I also thank God that He did not divorce us but sent Jesus to reconcile us back to Himself. God not only created love, but He showed us how to love perfectly through Jesus. He showed us that Tina was wrong and that love is not an emotion, and it is not second hand. God is love and that makes it top priority for Him. Should it not be for us as well?

Points to Ponder:

How can we love better?

Who do I need to love better?