I Love You?

I love you?  3 words.  They seem to roll so easily off the tongue.  Said by so many.  Said more times on this day, Valentines, than on any other day.  But do people really understand what they say?  Many people say I love you.  But really mean I love you because...   
 ...because when I'm around you my social status is elevated
 ...because I lust for you
 ...because I'm lonely & want to be near someone
 ...because of all the good things that you do for me
 ...because ...
And the list goes on.  Or people say I love you but only when...
 ...only when I feel like it
 ...only when you love me back
 ...only when it is convenient
 ...only when it is best for me
 ...only when ...
No one really understands what love is.  Love is not an emotion or a feeling it is a commitment. God's love That is love.  To think about the God kind of love or to try and reason it out why Jesus would do what He did is impossible.  In reality we have no understanding of what real love is.
 In my life I have learned to not carelessly or meaininglessly let the words "I Love You" just role off my tongue in a manner that has no value and no worth.  I have also come to cherish the "I Love You"(s) that I receive because to me those 3 words are not just trite meaningless words.  When I speak the words "I Love You", know that I am saying that no matter what happens, no matter what the situation, no matter what my emotions tell me or what I feel like I WILL BE YOUR FRIEND.  Whatever it costs me, I will be a true friend, even to the very end.  The faithfulness of a friend is the only true measure of one's love for another.  No greater love has any man, than he lay down his life for his friend.

Now what is love to you?  Have you been guilty of saying "I love you" and really meant something else entirely?