Does love mean you miss people when they are not there?
Question:
When you love someone, does it imply you need to miss this person in case you’re too far away? If not, how is this love? I remember that Paul was always saying in his letters that he missed the people from the churches he wrote to. What do you think?
Answer:
"For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:8).
"Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved" (Philippians 4:1).
When you love someone, you enjoy their company and you look forward to being with them again. Now in our technological world, we have reached a point where you can remain in contact with people without physically being there. It often isn't quite the same, but it helps a bit. The desire for another person comes because of the affection we have for that person.
You can even look forward to meeting someone you've never met. Paul had not been to Rome, but he wrote: "For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established -- that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me" (Romans 1:11-12). Paul had that desire because he loved all the brethren. But then, we haven't met God yet, and we still long to be home with Him because of our mutual love.
Still, there is an aspect of love that might not cause a desire to be with a person. We are told to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). I'm to show them love, yet because they don't like me, I very likely won't miss them when they are not there. I can show love, but the affection isn't there.
