Phileo love

‘A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another’ John 13:34-35

The word love has been broadly used and because of this many people don’t have a clear understanding of what love is truly about. There are many aberrations of love which people have come up with to suit their circumstances and for their convenience. The Bible recognizes three kinds of love – Agape, Eros, and Phileo. Phileo is the brotherly love we share and have for one another. This kind of love can fade with the challenges of life. Esau did not start out hating Jacob. He must have loved him as a brother would. But when Jacob stole his blessings it brewed bitterness in Esau. God does not want us to carry any form of bitterness in our hearts about any one. Siblings are able to harbor bitterness against one another and it translates very often to rivalry. Another typical example is Joseph and his brothers. They probably did not despise Joseph from the beginning. They must have played together as children but the bitterness grew as Jacob favored Joseph above the others. And his dreams fueled the bitterness even more. I know the story of an 81 year old woman who did not speak with her brother for 40 years until he died. Forty years is a long time to harbor bitterness and unforgiveness in one’s heart. Especially since we know that unforgiveness is a major barrier to our relationship with God. God wants us to exist with a deeper love in our hearts that goes beyond the phileo love. Jesus is our example of perfect brotherly love. Jesus said greater love had no man than this that a man should lay down his life for his friend. Let us lay aside every pettiness that keeps us bitter towards one another. And keep in perspective the One who loved us when we were most unlovable. This season God wants us to lay down bitterness at His feet so that He can heal our hearts with His love. Ask yourself, that thing your sibling did to offend you, would it really matter a 100years from now? Is it worth trading eternity for? Have you not been forgiven for much more? Freely give of that which you have also freely received. Be quick to forgive and learn to love as God loves us.

Prayer. Lord, fill my heart to overflowing with Your love, so that everyone I come in contact with will receive Your pure love through my life, in Jesus Name.