Is love optional at work? Yes, I get to decide whether to love or not. So do you. I often am not loving. I can be mean and cruel. I have no defense. As we work out our faith at work, we learn more about how to love from Jesus.  This is a primary qualification of being a great employee.

There is good news in that the Word of God and Jesus offers an understanding of the source, character, requirement and value of love, based on the nature and actions of God our Father. Jesus sums up God’s goal (command) for us as one of loving God, colleagues and employees. Jesus shows out to work out our love of our colleagues at work.

You shall love the Master your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  ~Jesus

Matthew 22:37

I must confess that I am not the best at this. I am challenged many days. Let’s dig in. There is much to learn on how to love. Many of are. We don’t talk about the importance of love at work very much. In fact, you may never have heard anyone at your place of work do so. There is a vacuum of leadership in this area.

The Greek word here is ἀγάπη agape. The Greek word agape is often translated “love” in the New Testament.

How is “agape love” different from other types of love? The essence of agape love is goodwill, benevolence, and willful delight in the object of love. Unlike our English word love, agape is not used in the New Testament to refer to romantic or sexual love.

It does not refer to close friendship or brotherly love”, for which the Greek word philia is used. Agape love involves faithfulness, commitment, and an act of the will. It is distinguished from the other types of love by its lofty moral nature and strong character.

What does love at work look like? The Apostle Paul gave it a shot in 1 Corinthians 13. It is the classic definition. Mainly he defines it by saying what it isn’t.

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.

1 Corinthians 13:4–8