The Unique Love of Parents for Their Children
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:10 (NIV).
This month, we are looking at the four main Greek words for love. So far, we have talked about “philia” and “eros.” This week, we will focus on the kind of love found behind the Greek word “storge.”
Storge is used to describe familial love. It is often characterized by familiarity, fondness, and a sense of belonging. While storge may not be explicitly used in the bible, it is potrayed as a fundamental aspect of family connections.
Why is the storge-love associated with the family?
Firstly, let us look at the family. As Wikipedia defines, a family is a group of people related by blood or affinity (marriage or other relationship). In this sense, family is not limited to blood relations but extends to other relations based on commonalities, like Christian groups, student groups, work or business groups, and other connections that share similar attributes. The purpose of a family is to maintain the well-being of its members and society.
Isaiah 49:15 says, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!". Here, we see how God explains His Love for us, relating it to the love between a child and a mother, exemplifying the love shared in a family.
This kind of love is not on account of something earned but of something shared. Commonly called familial love, it is often characterized by loyalty, protection, and responsibility. As C.S Lewis noted in his book The Four Loves, this type of love is the humblest and most widely diffuse of loves. It permeates deeply into our very existence and is present everywhere.
Paul, speaking to believers in Romans 12:20, encourages them to have genuine affection, like the one between parents and children, free from personal interest but with a strong intent of doing good and honoring each other. While it is possible to say that love between parents and children has not always been a good example, we can remember that as children of God, God is a perfect example of this type of love. God adopts us as His children, welcoming us into His family. That family includes everyone who knows God as a father.
We can express this love in the different families we are a part of, including our workplace family. By doing so, we can let others know Christ's affectionate and enduring love.
Reflect
How can you show genuine affection and honor for the people around you? Must people earn your love before you can show the same?
Pray
Dear Lord, help me love others genuinely and treat them with honor.
Steinar Opheim
