Bob Mumford, a noteworthy teacher, said, “Agape love ~ the God-kind of love ~ is linear. It travels in a straight line, expecting nothing in return.” Contrastly, that which we muster from our humanity results in being “love with a hook in it.” He adds that love with a hook is intentional, with the person expecting to receive something in return.

A Greek word that properly describes self-driven love is ‘dolos.’ Dolos means: bait, deceit or trickery; that is, using bait to allure [or ‘hook’] people, especially those already festering in excessive, emotional pain [brought on by themselves]. [Biblehub]

Another way to explain self-driven love is ‘deceit motivated by guile.’ Decoys are commonly used to snare or deceive people or animals. It is treachery to exploit the naive [or undiscerning] ~ baiting them through greed. The term is best described as bait for fishermen, with the idea of catching the unsuspecting.

Yet there was our Lord in whom there was found no sin: “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile [deceit].” [John 1:47]

Our Lord was the epitome of truth. “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” he taught. He never used clever words or methods to achieve something. He spoke that which would bring life and prosperity to a man’s soul … thus, we can trust Him.

David recorded in Psalm 32:1-2: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom Yahwah does not charge iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”