Topic: LOVE versus INFATUATION
THEME SCRIPTURE:
Song of Solomon 8:7 (NKJV)
Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised.
MESSAGE:
We identified in our last devotion, that, the chemistry or affinity between prospective married couples must be love and not infatuation. Not knowing the difference between love and infatuation can be misleading. This has been the number one reason why people have made, and others are still making the wrong choice of a marriage partner.
To infatuate is to inspire with a foolish or extravagant love or admiration, devoid of sound judgement. When one claims he/she is strongly in love with a person, but the other person completely feels the opposite, or feels otherwise, chances are that, the one claiming to be in love may be infatuating. Infatuation is often one-sided; only one person claims he/she is in love and feels the chemistry; the other person has no such chemistry and is unaware of such love. Infatuation is short-lived; it doesn’t stand the test of time. It is fickle! Infatuation is selfish; it is fake love. Infatuation only seeks the interest of the infatuated; it is often rooted in lust and not love. Lust is a selfish desire to satisfy one’s self at the expense of the other.
On the other hand, if the chemistry or affinity is mutual; if it becomes so strong that the two have a common connection, and this connection is between only these two; then, there’s the likelihood of the existence of love between the two. This love is usually a mixture of erotic and agape love, because it has a sensual element attached to it. And if the connection is love and not infatuation, even when there’s no sexual or erotic feelings towards each other, the two will still be committed to each other’s wellbeing.
True love is the commitment of one, to the wellbeing of another. Our theme Scripture says, “Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it.” Love is as strong as death (Song of Solomon 8:6). True love will always stand the test of time. When the feelings are gone, true love will continue to stay. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). It persists and perseveres through the changing scenes of life. Love covers multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). It does not hold onto past hurts and mistakes. True love is self-giving. There’s no greater love than when one lays down his/her life for the other (John 15:13).
True love will be proven with time. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. That’s why a couple who are attracted to each other must not prematurely satisfy the sexual or erotic feeling before the marriage is consummated. Marriage is consummated or sealed when the couple have their first sexual intercourse. Having sex before marriage will distort the couple’s sense of judgement, which may cripple their initiative to be committed to each other’s wellbeing.
