Love is part of being human. After all, we were created in God’s image, and God is love. We love and are happier for it, but at the same time, every form of love carries some level of danger. Who has not had a broken heart or been disappointed, let down, or even betrayed by a loved one?
Love is Worth the Risk
Romantic love is dangerous, and when expressed, there is always the risk of not being received or reciprocated. Every guy knows the “sweaty palms feeling” that comes with asking a girl out on a date, unsure of her answer. The feeling does not get any better if she says “Yes.” When romantic love is professed, there is always the possibility it will not be reciprocated, and that is very painful. Although dangerous, you and I would probably agree romantic love is totally worth the risk.
Friendship is Risky, Too
This dangerous love reality is also true of familial love, or even the love between friends. When you care deeply for someone, you inevitably expose yourself to the risk of great pain. If a co-worker is hateful to you, lets you down, becomes angry with you, treats you badly, or is diagnosed with cancer, it will probably only bother you a little — after all, you are just acquaintances. On the other hand, if your spouse, child, parent, brother, sister, or best friend does any of those same things, you will likely be bothered much more. The closer the relationship, the greater the love, and the greater the potential for experiencing pain. Again, friendship and familial love may be dangerous, but totally worth the risk.
The Most Dangerous Love
Agape — the pure and perfect love of God is a completely selfless expression of love. This love always seeks the benefit of the other person, no matter what the cost and no matter how dangerous it may be. This form of love may well be the most dangerous of them all.
Agape love will cause you to speak truth even when the truth is not popular. Agape love will cause you to go to uncomfortable or even unsafe places, because there is a great need. Loving with this kind of love will cause you to give your money to things you have nothing to do with you, even when it calls for sacrifice on your part. Agape love will motivate you to take risks you prefer not to take. This is the kind of love that calls you to lay down your life for someone else.
Love Never Fails
This is how Jesus loved and He ended up on a cross. This is the love Stephen chose, and he was stoned. This is what prophets, disciples, and faithful followers of the one true God have done generation after generation — enduring mistreatment, hardships, imprisonment, torture, and even death. This is love, love at its truest and best. This is dangerous love.
More than any other form of love, agape love is totally worth the risk, because this love never fails.
by Jimmy Aycock