What is Love?
Genesis 22:1-2
The Bible ultimately carries one central theme: the story of God’s salvation and love. If someone were to ask what the Bible is about, the answer could be summed up this way: it tells how God saves us and how God loves us. The first time the word “love” appears in Scripture is in Genesis 22, when God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac. This sets the stage for understanding both the nature of love and the depth of trust required in our relationship with God. Love, in biblical terms, is not just words or feelings but is shown in the willingness to give what is most precious.
Abraham’s test reveals that God’s trials are not for His benefit but for ours. God already knows our hearts, but tests allow us to see where we truly stand. For Abraham, Isaac represented the one and only thing he cherished most. Issac was the child of promise given after decades of waiting. Yet when God asked him to lay Isaac on the altar, Abraham obeyed without protest. His trust in God’s character allowed him to surrender even what seemed impossible to give up. The test was not about losing Isaac, but about proving Abraham’s love for God above all else. In this way, Genesis 22 teaches us that love can be defined by what we are willing to give. To give the most precious thing we have is genuine love.
This story also points us to the cross. Just as Abraham was willing to offer Isaac, God the Father gave His one and only Son for us. John 3:16 makes it clear: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” God does not ask of us something He has not first done Himself. His love has been proven and verified through His ultimate sacrifice. Therefore, when God asks us, “Do you love Me?” as Jesus asked Peter in John 21, He is not seeking empty words but a willing heart. Love is proven in giving, whether it be our time, pride, comfort, money, or even our most cherished relationships.
The question this passage leaves us with is deeply practical: What is your “Isaac”? What is the one thing in your life that you prize above all else? If God asked you to surrender it, would you be willing? Loving God means more than singing songs or saying the words. It means living in such a way that nothing is held back from Him. Just as Abraham’s faith was made real in his obedience, our love for God is shown not by what we say, but by what we are willing to give. To love is to give. And we are able to give because God first gave everything for us.
Discussion Questions
What/who is your Issac? What/who is the one thing in your life that you prize above all else?
What are some practical ways you can exemplify God’s love through giving? How can we practice giving with a willing heart?
What are your main takeaways from this sermon?
