What is your definition of LOVE?

Question

Please read this...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bibletruths_forbelievers/message/7113
And tell me if you think it's a good definition of what LOVE really is.
THIS IS NOT SPAM!!!
I honestly would like to know your opinions.
Thank you and God bless.

uh, excuse me gwlech, but if you had read the post at the link i provided, then you'd have seen i did narrow it down.

Virginia B and SeeTheLight have given the best answers so far.
But all of you are failing to click on the link and read my post.
THAT'S what i want your opinion on.
God bless you all for sharing.

Answer 1

Don't get any definition of love by clicking that link.
Love is: unconditional.

Answer 2

1 Cor 13

Answer 3

Love gives because that is what love does. Love gives without exceptions. Love gives and just wants to be loved in return. LOVE IS GOD! God bless you too!
(Thank you for providing the link)

Answer 4

When you care about someone enough to let the toilet seat back down 25% of the time.

Answer 5

Love- Whenever I happen to lay eyes on a beautiful, tall, well built, Muscular Testosterone filled man.

Answer 6

Jesus Is Love.

God Bless You.

Answer 7

The real definition of love is JESUS. He loved mankind so much He died for us. That is AMAZING love!

Answer 8

An emotion that motivates us to protect people and things we covet and tricks us into reproducing.

Answer 9

there are many kinds...romantic and for kids and God
deep love is dying for someone like what Jesus did!!

Answer 10

A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a friend, for a parent or child, and so forth; warm fondness or liking for another; also, the benevolent affection of God for his creatures or the reverent affection due from them to God; also, the kindly affection properly expressed by God’s creatures toward one another; that strong or passionate affection for a person of the opposite sex that constitutes the emotional incentive to conjugal union. One of the synonyms for love is “devotion.”

Aside from those meanings, the Scriptures speak also of love guided by principle, as love of righteousness or even love for one’s enemies, for whom a person may not have affection. This facet or expression of love is an unselfish devotion to righteousness and a sincere concern for the lasting welfare of others, along with an active expression of this for their good.

The verb ’a·hev′ or ’a·hav′ (“love”) and the noun ’a·havah′ (“love”) are the words primarily used in Hebrew to denote love in the foregoing senses, the context determining the sense and degree meant.

The Christian Greek Scriptures mainly employ forms of the words a·ga′pe, phi·li′a, and two words drawn from stor·ge′ (e′ros, love between the sexes, not being used). A·ga′pe appears more frequently than the other terms.

Of the noun a·ga′pe and the verb a·ga·pa′o, Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words says: “Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God’s love is seen in the gift of His Son, I John 4:9, 10. But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in its objects, Rom. 5:8. It was an exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself, cp. Deut. 7:7, 8.”—1981, Vol. 3, p. 21.

Regarding the verb phi·le′o, Vine comments: “[It] is to be distinguished from agapao in this, that phileo more nearly represents tender affection. . . . Again, to love (phileo) life, from an undue desire to preserve it, forgetful of the real object of living, meets with the Lord’s reproof, John 12:25. On the contrary, to love life (agapao) as used in I Pet. 3:10, is to consult the true interests of living. Here the word phileo would be quite inappropriate.”—Vol. 3, pp. 21, 22.

James Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, in its Greek dictionary (1890, pp. 75, 76), remarks under phi·le′o: “To be a friend to (fond of [an individual or an object]), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while [a·ga·pa′o] is wider, embracing espec. the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety . . . ).”—See AFFECTION.

A·ga′pe, therefore, carries the meaning of love guided, or governed, by principle. It may or may not include affection and fondness. That a·ga′pe may include affection and warmth is evident in many passages. At John 3:35, Jesus said: “The Father loves [a·ga·pai′] the Son.” At John 5:20, he said: “The Father has affection for [phi·lei′] the Son.” Certainly God’s love for Jesus Christ is coupled with much affection. Also Jesus explained: “He that loves [a·ga·pon′] me will be loved [a·ga·pe·the′se·tai] by my Father, and I will love [a·ga·pe′so] him.” (Joh 14:21) This love of the Father and of the Son is accompanied by tender affection for such loving persons. Jehovah’s worshipers must love him and his Son, as well as one another, in the same way.—Joh 21:15-17.

So, although distinguished by respect for principle, a·ga′pe is not unfeeling; otherwise it would not differ from cold justice. But it is not ruled by feeling or sentiment; it never ignores principle. Christians rightly show a·ga′pe toward others for whom they may feel no affection or fondness, doing so for the welfare of those persons. (Ga 6:10) Yet, though not feeling affection, they do feel compassion and sincere concern for such fellow humans, to the limits and in the way that righteous principles allow and direct.

However, while a·ga′pe refers to love governed by principle, there are good and bad principles. A wrong kind of a·ga′pe could be expressed, guided by bad principles. For example, Jesus said: “If you love [a·ga·pa′te] those loving you, of what credit is it to you? For even the sinners love those loving them. And if you do good to those doing good to you, really of what credit is it to you? Even the sinners do the same. Also, if you lend without interest to those from whom you hope to receive, of what credit is it to you? Even sinners lend without interest to sinners that they may get back as much.” (Lu 6:32-34) The principle upon which such ones operate is: ‘Do good to me and I will do good to you.’

The apostle Paul said of one who had worked alongside him: “Demas has forsaken me because he loved [a·ga·pe′sas] the present system of things.” (2Ti 4:10) Demas apparently loved the world on the principle that love of it will bring material benefits. The apostle John says: “Men have loved [e·ga′pe·san] the darkness rather than the light, for their works were wicked. For he that practices vile things hates the light and does not come to the light, in order that his works may not be reproved.” (Joh 3:19, 20) Because it is a truth or principle that darkness helps cover their wicked deeds, they love it.

Jesus commanded: “Love [a·ga·pa′te] your enemies.” (Mt 5:44) God himself established the principle, as the apostle Paul states: “God recommends his own love [a·ga′pen] to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. . . . For if, when we were enemies, we became reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, now that we have become reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Ro 5:8-10) An outstanding instance of such love is God’s dealing with Saul of Tarsus, who became the apostle Paul. (Ac 9:1-16; 1Ti 1:15) Loving our enemies, therefore, should be governed by the principle established by God and should be exercised in obedience to his commandments, whether or not such love is accompanied by any warmth or affection.