Recently, I was listening to music, and an old song from the '90s came on. One of the lyrics said, "If I had a million dollars, I'd buy your love." Though the song’s intent is humorous, it reflects a deeper, widespread misunderstanding about the nature of love. This idea—that love could somehow be bought—reveals how often we equate love with transactional exchanges. It raises the question: What do we really mean when we talk about love?
In the modern world, love is often reduced to a transaction. Many view it as something that fulfills their own happiness, existing only as long as it serves their needs. If love is about using another person for self-fulfillment, then it might seem that love could be bought. If I desire your presence or your service to make me happy, I could offer you money in exchange. Though extreme, this is not far removed from how many relationships function today. The rise of platforms like OnlyFans exemplifies this transactional mindset. Such relationships may bring fleeting happiness, but they cannot provide the deep connection we all truly crave.
Love, in its deepest form, is not transactional but transformational. If we seek something lasting and meaningful, it must go beyond temporary gratification. True love anchors one person to another through mutual self-giving—a relationship where each offers their whole self without holding back. This level of vulnerability and commitment cannot be bought.
To understand love’s essence, we can look to the ultimate example: God’s love. Unlike human love, which can sometimes be conditional or self-serving, God’s love is perfectly selfless. God, lacking nothing, created purely out of generosity to share His glory with His creation. This act of self-giving benefits us immeasurably, yet it gains nothing for Him. It is love without strings, a gift freely given.
However, love does not exclude responsibility. God desires a relationship with His creation, for it is only in loving Him that we can find true fulfillment. Our purpose is to love and be in relationship, a reality that cannot be bought or bargained for.
Can God buy our love? Would we love Him more if He gave us everything we wanted? The answer is no. Love motivated by what we receive is not love at all. It is consumption, treating the other as an object to fulfill our desires. God’s love, however, is sacrificial and generous—an invitation to reciprocate rather than a demand. Real love, whether human or divine, involves giving, not just taking.
When we fail to reciprocate love—whether with God or others—we fracture the bonds that sustain relationships. This is the essence of sin: taking without giving, using without caring. We exploit God’s gifts for our own purposes, hiding ourselves from true relationship. Such selfishness leaves us unfulfilled, for material possessions and shallow relationships can never satisfy the deeper longing for connection.
Real love requires vulnerability and courage. It demands that we share what is most fundamental to us—our fears, hopes, and insecurities—knowing it risks rejection or hurt. Yet, in this risk lies the possibility of the deep, enduring connection we long for. Love thrives not on gain but on giving. It seeks not what it can take but what it can pour into the beloved. It endures suffering, extends kindness, and sacrifices without boasting. Love is self-emptying and generous, seeking the good of the other above all.
In the most meaningful kind of love, we give ourselves fully to another and receive their gift of self in return. This mutual self-giving is the foundation of love, both with God and with others. The more intimate the relationship, the greater the selflessness it demands.
Ultimately, love cannot be reduced to a transaction. It thrives on trust, sacrifice, and vulnerability. You cannot buy the selfless, enduring desire of another to seek your well-being and unite with you. You cannot buy sacrifice, but you can offer it freely.
So let us reflect on how we can embody this love in our lives—with our families, friends, and even strangers. In choosing selflessness, trust, and vulnerability, we discover the priceless gift that endures: a love that no amount of money can ever buy.
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