Four Loves

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art. . . . It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that gives value to survival.”
—C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves


Love has been the favorite topic of philosophers, artists, poets, musicians, and religious leaders since humankind began. The Apostle John stated that “God is love,” and Jesus affirmed God’s law as the two commandments of unconditional love for God and loving one’s neighbor as oneself. It baffles me that Lewis would state that it is unnecessary because for me fellowship is one of the most important things. We live in a world that reeks of dependence. Not on people or friends but on material things, things that people think will bring them life. Without this dependence people will have nothing to live for. I think that a dependence on people if it is in the right measure is okay because it can be a picture of Christ’s love.