Different Kinds Of Love Series

Knowing Different Kinds of Love

Once again I want to let people know that this message applies to everyone. In order to love the way we should we need to know what love is. I want to teach you a little this morning.

Are there different kinds of love? The world would tell you there are different kinds of love. Before I get into the heart of love, let us look at the world view of love and I will then differentiate them.

The first kind of love is #1 Platonic love

Platonic love is the simplest of all types of love. There are no strings attached and no sexual intentions either. It’s pure, friendly, and something we experience from a very young age. The kind of relationships you share with siblings, close childhood friends and even a few grownup friends can fall right here. Do you remember the first time you ever missed a friend? That was probably your first platonic love moment. It’s pure, just about all of us have people in our lives that we really care about. I have a couple.

CP: (Christian Perspective) This kind of love is necessary in all relationships if you care about anyone. Yes, this love must be present even in elevated relationships; that means more serious. It has to start at the bottom. If you say you love someone, love starts at the bottom and fills the glass up. This kind of love is really the glass itself.

#2 Limerence and crushes

Ever had a crush on someone? Of course you have! The first crush is a memorable experience, one that’s filled with confusing jolts in the stomach, sudden urges to throw up and a stupid sense of grinning satisfaction each time you see your crush. It’s a beautiful experience even if it did feel like your life depended on it at that time. It’s that warm and fuzzy feeling you get, it’s that I can’t wait to talk to that person feeling.

CP: In more serious of elevated relationships such as marriage, there still should be some degree of this going on. It’s NOT going to be as intense but there still should be a little warm and fuzzy when you are around that certain person. You know what I mean and let me just say, it does fizzle the older you get but in those relationships where there has been long term love, you will hear comments such as, you remember when we were sneaking out of the house, I know that was 25 years ago but you understand.

Limerence, on the other hand, is rather close to a crush but much more intense and “weird”. Have you ever liked someone madly, but didn’t ever want to express your love for them, it is that person you really do not want anyone to know about, especially that special one. Sometimes, you may have an intense infatuation for someone, but yet, you wouldn’t want to spoil the happy thoughts by doing anything about it. Ever been there? This type of love has happened to most all of us already. I have seen it happen with adults but rarely. Most adults know time is short so they express their love faster. You will see this in young relationships.

CP: This love should not exist in a healthy relationship. We should be able to always express our love and happy thoughts with that person. If we cannot or do not have those feelings, especially after a long period of time, you need to start rebuilding the fire. Maybe you need to share the weirdness you once had.

#3 Unrequited love

The world says there is Unrequited love, a love filled with heartbreaks and one that almost all of us have experienced. It’s the dreaded one sided love, where you like someone and you know that person will never liked you back. They may be in a relationship, or they may just use you. You find yourself falling more in love with each passing day, even though you know you’ll never get any happiness out of this type of love. This is the type of love that gives love a bad name. But you know what, it also helps you understand the real value of reciprocal love.

CP: If I were addressing just teenagers this morning, I would say expect this but guard your heart as not to allow this. As adults there are marriages in trouble because it has become a one-sided affair. I have counseled people who really did not want to get married in the beginning and this love leads to disaster and in elevated relationships, this should never exist, if it does you need more help than my pay grade. If you do not receive reciprocal love, then it’s not the love mentioned in the Bible.